gestation

American  

[je-stey-shuhn] / dʒɛˈsteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process, state, or period of gestating.

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gestation British  

/ ˈdʒɛstətɪv, dʒɛˈsteɪ-, dʒɛˈsteɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. the development of the embryo of a viviparous mammal, between conception and birth: about 266 days in humans, 624 days in elephants, and 63 days in cats

   2. ( as modifier )

      gestation period

2. the development of an idea or plan in the mind

3. the period of such a development

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gestation Scientific  

/ jĕ-stā′shən /

1. The period of time spent in the uterus between conception and birth. Gestation in humans is about nine months.

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Other Word Forms

• gestational
  adjective
• gestative
  adjective
• gestatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gestation

1525–35; < Latin gestātiōn- (stem of gestātiō ), equivalent to gestāt ( us ) ( see gestate) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Gestation is the period of time when something is conceived and developed. The gestation period for human babies lasts nine months. Gestation comes from the Latin gestare, which means to bear, or give birth to. We can talk about the gestation of fetus before it's born, but we also use gestation to talk about ideas. If you've been vaguely thinking about starting a revolution for the last year, then that idea has been in gestation.

Example Sentences

Gestation crates didn’t become commonplace until they were added to new buildings in the 1980s.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

Gestation is considered a full-time job; the days at Golden Oaks have the same intense orderliness of a factory floor.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 11, 2019

Gestation for a litter is roughly 31 days.

From Washington Times • Nov. 9, 2015

Gestation is exactly sixty-three days, during which the alpha female digs a den for raising the pups.

From Scientific American • Oct. 9, 2015

Gestation, period of, in the dog, wolf, &c, i. 29-30; in the pig, i.

From The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2) by Darwin, Charles