holoblastic

[ hol-uh-blas-tik, hoh-luh- ]

adjective

, Embryology.

1. (of certain eggs) undergoing total cleavage, resulting in equal blastomeres.

holoblastic

/ ˌhɒləˈblæstɪk /

adjective

1. embryol of or showing cleavage of the entire zygote into blastomeres, as in eggs with little yolk Compare meroblastic

Derived Forms

• ˌholoˈblastically, adverb

Other Words From

• holo·blasti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of holoblastic¹

1870–75; holoblast ( holo- + -blast ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Holoblastic, hol-o-blas′tik, adj. undergoing segmentation throughout the entire mass, as the ova of mammals.

From Project Gutenberg