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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.

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Nearby words

  1. uteroscope,
  2. uteroscopy,
  3. uterotomy,
  4. uterotonic,
  5. uterotubography,
  6. uterus didelphys,
  7. utgard,
  8. utgard-loki,
  9. uther,
  10. uther pendragon

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for uterus

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

Word Origin and History for uterus

uterus

n.

1610s, from Latin uterus "womb, belly" (plural uteri), from PIE root *udero- "abdomen, womb, stomach" (cf. Sanskrit udaram "belly," Greek hystera "womb," Lithuanian vederas "sausage, intestines, stomach, lower abdomen," Old Church Slavonic vedro "bucket, barrel," Russian vedro), perhaps originally in PIE "outer, sticking out," shifting to "belly" via "protruding."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine 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
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture 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.

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.