Pronunciation: [ˌɛmbɹɪˈɒnɪk] (IPA) 
The word "embryonic" is often misspelled due to its complex spelling. The correct pronunciation of this word is /ɛmˈbraɪ.ɒn.ɪk/ or "em-bry-on-ik". The first syllable "em" is followed by "bry" (not "bri") and the second syllable ends with "on" (not "un"). Finally, it ends with "ic" (not "ik"). Though the spelling may seem confusing, knowing the correct sounds can prevent common misspellings of "embryonic".
Embryonic is an adjective that describes something in the earliest stages of development or formation. It refers to the period or phase in which an organism or project is in its initial or early stages of growth, especially before it has fully developed or matured.
In the context of biology, embryonic relates to the earliest stages of an organism's development, specifically referring to the period between fertilization and the formation of all major organs and structural features. It is characterized by rapid cell division and differentiation, as the organism goes through various stages before acquiring its definitive form.
Beyond biology, embryonic can be used metaphorically to describe something at its incipient stage, such as the beginning of a new idea, project, or organization. It signifies the early and formative stages when something is still emerging or hasn't reached its full potential. For example, an embryonic industry might refer to a fledgling sector that is just starting to develop or gain momentum.
In general, the term embryonic conveys the notion of being in a nascent or initial state, with the potential for further growth, development, and change. It implies a sense of fragility, vulnerability, and possibility, as the entity or concept is still in its early stages of establishment or realization.
In the condition of an embryo, rudimentary.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "embryonic" is derived from the Greek word "embruon", which means "unborn" or "within the womb". It comes from the combination of the prefix "em-" (meaning "in", "into", or "within") and the noun "bruon" (meaning "fetus" or "unborn child"). The term "embryo" originally referred specifically to the early stages of development of a human or animal inside the womb, but it has since been extended to more broadly describe any early stage of development in various contexts. The "-ic" ending in "embryonic" is a suffix that converts the noun "embryo" into an adjective form, indicating a characteristic or state related to or resembling an embryo.
