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ontogeny

[on-toj-uh-nee]
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noun Biology.
  1. the development or developmental history of an individual organism.
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Also on·to·gen·e·sis [on-tuh-jen-uh-sis] /ˌɒn təˈdʒɛn ə sɪs/.
Compare phylogeny.

Origin of ontogeny

First recorded in 1870–75; onto- + -geny
Related formson·to·ge·net·ic [on-tuh-juh-net-ik] /ˌɒn tə dʒəˈnɛt ɪk/, on·to·ge·net·i·cal, on·to·gen·ic, adjectiveon·to·ge·net·i·cal·ly, on·to·gen·i·cal·ly, adverbon·tog·e·nist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for ontogeny

evolution, advancement, expansion, improvement, increase, progress, maturity, progression, addition, reinforcement, enlargement, augmentation, hike, flowering, advance, boost, buildup, spread, adulthood, developing

Examples from the Web for ontogeny

Historical Examples of ontogeny

  • But they may also be associated in succession, such as those of hearing and of ontogeny.

    The Sexual Question

    August Forel

  • This denture is nothing else than a phylogenetic incident in the ontogeny of the whale.

  • Their past (ontogeny) and present (pragmatics) are involved in these interactions.

  • This is afforded by comparative anatomy and by the study of ontogeny.

    The Last Link

    Ernst Haeckel

  • Thus, then, in ontogeny the fish goes no further than the fish stages.

    Evolution

    Joseph Le Conte

British Dictionary definitions for ontogeny

ontogeny

ontogenesis (ˌɒntəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs)

noun
  1. the entire sequence of events involved in the development of an individual organismCompare phylogeny
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Derived Formsontogenic (ˌɒntəˈdʒɛnɪk) or ontogenetic (ˌɒntədʒɪˈnɛtɪk), adjectiveontogenically or ontogenetically, adverb
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

Word Origin and History for ontogeny

n.

"development of an individual," 1872, from onto- + -geny. Related: Ontogenic; ontogenesis.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ontogeny in Medicine

ontogeny

(ŏn-tŏj′ə-nē)
n.
  1. The origin and development of an individual organism from embryo to adult.ontogenesis
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
ontogeny in Science

ontogeny

[ŏn-tŏj′ə-nē]
  1. The origin and development of an individual organism from embryo to adult.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.