teratology

American  

[ter-uh-tol-uh-jee] / ˌtɛr əˈtɒl ə dʒi /

noun

Biology.

1. the science or study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in organisms.

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teratology British  

/ ˌtɛrətəˈlɒdʒɪk, ˌtɛrəˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of medical science concerned with the development of physical abnormalities during the fetal or early embryonic stage

2. the branch of biology that is concerned with the structure, development, etc, of monsters

3. a collection of tales about mythical or fantastic creatures, monsters, etc

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teratology Scientific  

/ tĕr′ə-tŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of birth defects.

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Other Word Forms

• teratologic adjective
• teratological adjective
• teratologist noun

Etymology

Origin of teratology

First recorded in 1670–80; terato- + -logy

Example Sentences

In 1818 he began to discuss philosophical anatomy, the doctrine of homologies; he also studied the embryology of the mammals, and was the founder of teratology.

From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)

It may be expedient to do so when the object sought is one of convenience and facility of determination only, but when broader considerations are concerned, teratology must no more be banished than variation.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.

Linnæus treated of them to some extent in his 'Philosophia,' but it is mainly to Angustin Pyramus De Candolle that the credit is due of calling attention to the importance of vegetable teratology.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.

From the appearance of the treatise by Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, teratology has made enormous strides, and is to-day well on the road to becoming a science.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

In any case the data supplied by teratology require to be used with caution and in conjunction with those derived from the study of development and from analogy.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.