uterus

[ yoo-ter-uh s ]

/ ˈyu tər əs /

noun, plural u·ter·i [yoo-tuh-rahy] /ˈyu təˌraɪ/, u·ter·us·es. Anatomy, Zoology.

the enlarged, muscular, expandable portion of the oviduct in which the fertilized ovum implants and develops or rests during prenatal development; the womb of certain mammals.

Words nearby uterus

uteroscope, uteroscopy, uterotomy, uterotonic, uterotubography, uterus, uterus didelphys, utgard, utgard-loki, uther, uthman

Origin of uterus

1605–15; < Latin: the womb, matrix; akin to Greek hystéra womb, Sanskrit udara belly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for uterus

An important appendage contained in the Uterus in connection with the developing fetus is that known as "The Amnion."
Private Sex Advice to Women|R. B. Armitage
During and just after menstruation, the Uterus becomes enlarged and more vascular.
Private Sex Advice to Women|R. B. Armitage
A thorough and practical treatise on the Malpositions of the Uterus and adjacent Organs.
Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women|George Sumner Weaver
Gestation is "the act of carrying young in the Uterus, from the time of conception to that of parturition."
Private Sex Advice to Women|R. B. Armitage

Uterus masculinus: a pouch or sac into which the ductus ejaculatorius opens in the Symphyla.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology|John. B. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for uterus

uterus

/ (ˈjuːtərəs) /

noun plural uteri (ˈjuːtəˌraɪ)

anatomy a hollow muscular organ lying within the pelvic cavity of female mammals. It houses the developing fetus and by contractions aids in its expulsion at parturitionNontechnical name: womb

the corresponding organ in other animals

Word Origin for uterus

C17: from Latin; compare Greek hustera womb, hoderos belly, Sanskrit udara belly

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 uterus

uterus

[ yōō′tər-əs ]

n. pl. u•ter•us•es

A hollow muscular organ consisting of a body, fundus, isthmus, and cervix located in the pelvic cavity of female mammals, in which the fertilized egg implants and develops into the fetus.metra womb

Scientific definitions for uterus

uterus

[ yōō′tər-əs ]

Plural uteri (yōō′tə-rī′) uteruses

The hollow, muscular organ of female mammals in which the embryo develops. In most mammals the uterus is divided into two saclike parts, whereas in primates it is a single structure. It lies between the bladder and rectum and is attached to the vagina and the fallopian tubes. During the menstrual cycle (estrus), the lining of the uterus (endometrium) undergoes changes that permit the implantation of a fertilized egg. Also called womb See more at menstrual cycle.

Cultural definitions for uterus

uterus

[ (yooh-tuh-ruhs) ]

A pear-shaped organ in the female reproductive system where the embryo or fetus develops until birth. The strong muscles of the uterus help push the baby out of the mother's body.