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| em·bry·o [ émbree ] (plural em·bry·os) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. human offspring in initial developmental stage: a human offspring in the early stages following conception up to the end of the eighth week, after which it is classified as a fetus
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2. animal in initial developmental stage: the developing young of an animal from the earliest stages after conception up to birth or hatching
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3. plant in initial developmental stage: a plant in its earliest stages of development. In seed-bearing plants, the embryo is contained within the seed.
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4. early form of something: an early form or rudimentary stage of something
  the embryo of an exciting new invention
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| [14th century. Via Latin< Greek embruon< bruein "swell, grow"] |
