The word "gestation" is often misspelled due to its tricky pronunciation. The correct way to pronounce it is /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/. The "g" in "gestation" is silent, while the stress is on the second syllable. The spelling of "gestation" comes from the Latin word "gestatio," meaning "a carrying" or "a pregnancy." To remember the spelling, break it down into syllables, focus on the "e" in the first syllable, and remember the "a" in the third syllable. With practice, you'll be spelling "gestation" like a pro.
Gestation is a noun that refers to the period of development and growth that a fetus undergoes inside the womb of a female mammal, specifically referring to the time between conception and birth. This term is mostly used to describe this process in humans, but it can also be applied to other mammals. During gestation, the maternal body provides the necessary nutrients and support for the baby's development, including the growth of organs, body systems, and overall physical features.
In humans, gestation typically lasts around nine months or approximately 40 weeks, but it can vary slightly depending on various factors, such as the health of the mother and the offspring, genetics, and environmental conditions. Throughout gestation, the fetus goes through different stages of development, starting as a single cell and progressing into a fully formed human baby. This intricate process involves the creation and growth of body systems, bones, muscles, the brain, and other vital organs that are essential for survival outside the womb.
Gestation is a crucial period for the fetus, as it is during this time that it acquires all the necessary resources and conditions for proper growth and development. The process involves a complex series of changes and adaptations within the mother's body to provide nutrition, oxygen, and support for the growing fetus. Understanding the duration and stages of gestation is important for medical professionals, as it helps monitor the health and progress of both the mother and the developing baby throughout pregnancy.
Pregnancy, fetation.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The act of carrying young in the womb from conception to delivery; the state of pregnancy.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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 "gestation" is derived from the Latin term "gestatio", which is derived from the verb "gestare" meaning "to bear, carry, or gestate". This Latin verb is a frequentative form of "gerere", which means "to carry" or "to bear". In English, "gestation" specifically refers to the process of carrying an unborn child in the womb of a female mammal.