gastrulation

noun

gas·​tru·​la·​tion ˌga-strə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce gastrulation (audio)
: the process of becoming or of forming a gastrula
gastrulate intransitive verb

Examples of gastrulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That two-week point is when one of the most crucial stages of development occurs, called gastrulation. Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 13 June 2023 According to The Guardian, the models are eventually able to reach gastrulation—when the embryo switches from a sheet of cells into distinct cell lines, but still before the heart or brain starts to form. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 16 June 2023 Hanna acknowledged that he was surprised by how well the embryo models continued to grow beyond gastrulation. Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 13 June 2023 Then, a specialized process called gastrulation begins, when the embryo cells begin to differentiate into systems to organize the body. Bethany Mollenkof, New York Times, 31 May 2022 The first is to study the process known as gastrulation—the point two weeks after conception when embryonic cells begin to differentiate into the body’s more than 200 cell types. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 10 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gastrulation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Gastrulation, from Gastrula gastrula + -ation -ation

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gastrulation was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near gastrulation

Cite this Entry

“Gastrulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gastrulation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gastrulation

noun
gas·​tru·​la·​tion ˌgas-trə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce gastrulation (audio)
: the process of becoming or of forming a gastrula

Medical Definition

gastrulation

noun
gas·​tru·​la·​tion ˌgas-trə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce gastrulation (audio)
: the process of becoming or of forming a gastrula
gastrulate intransitive verb
gastrulated; gastrulating

More from Merriam-Webster on gastrulation

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