in vitro
[ in -vee-troh ]
/ ɪn ˈvi troʊ /
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adverb, adjective
(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.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Compare in vivo.
Origin of in vitro
First recorded in 1890–95, in vitro is from Latin in vitrō literally, “in glass”
Words nearby in vitro
invitational, invitatory, invite, invitee, inviting, in vitro, in vitro fertilization, in vivo, in vivo fertilization, invocate, invocation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for in vitro
British Dictionary definitions for in vitro
in vitro
/ (ɪn ˈviːtrəʊ) /
adverb, adjective
(of biological processes or reactions) made to occur outside the living organism in an artificial environment, such as a culture medium
Word Origin for in vitro
New Latin, literally: in glass
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for in vitro
in vitro
[ ĭn vē′trō ]
adj.
In an artificial environment outside a living organism.
Other words from in vitro
in vi′tro adv.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for in vitro
in vitro
[ ĭn vē′trō ]
In an artificial environment, such as a test tube. Compare in vivo.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for in vitro
in vitro
[ (in vee-troh) ]
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.)
notes for in vitro
In vitro appears in the expression in vitro fertilization, a way of producing human embryos in a laboratory.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.