invagination

[ in-vaj-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of invaginating.
2. Embryology. the inward movement of a portion of the wall of a blastula in the formation of a gastrula.
3. Pathology. intussusception ( def 3 ).
4. a form or shape resulting from an infolded tissue.

Word History and Origins

Origin of invagination¹

First recorded in 1650–60; invaginate + -ion