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Noun: gestation  je'stey-shun
  1. Technical term for pregnancy
    "She announced her gestation at the family gathering";
    - pregnancy, maternity, gravidation [archaic], gravidity [technical]
     
  2. The period during which an embryo develops (about 266 days in humans)
    "The typical human gestation period is around 40 weeks";
    - gestation period
     
  3. The conception and development of an idea or plan
    "The gestation of the novel took place over several years"

Derived forms: gestations

Type of: biological time, construction, mental synthesis, physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state

Encyclopedia: Gestation