in vitro

[in vee-troh]

adverb

1. (of a biological process) made to occur in a laboratory vessel or other controlled experimental environment rather than within a living organism or natural setting.

in vitro

/ ɪn ˈviːtrəʊ /

adverb

1. (of biological processes or reactions) made to occur outside the living organism in an artificial environment, such as a culture medium

in vitro

1. In an artificial environment, such as a test tube.

2. Compare in vivo

in vitro

1. In the laboratory; literally, “in glass” (laboratory experiments are often carried out in glass containers). In vitro conditions are distinguished from conditions that actually apply in nature. (Compare in vivo.)

In vitro appears in the expression in vitro fertilization , a way of producing human embryos in a laboratory.

Word History and Origins

Origin of in vitro¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from Latin in vitrō, literally, “in glass”

Word History and Origins

Origin of in vitro¹

New Latin, literally: in glass