gestation

Everyday

1. (science) The time a baby animal grows inside its mother before it is born. tree →
2. The time an idea or plan takes to develop. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on life cycles: human gestation is about nine months; an elephant's is nearly two years; a mouse's about three weeks. In maths, gestation periods are compared in tables.

Examples

• The gestation period of an elephant is about 22 months. tree →
• Human gestation lasts about nine months. tree →
• Mice have a short gestation. tree →
• Compare the gestation periods in the table. tree →
• Kangaroos have a very short gestation, then the baby grows in the pouch. tree →
• The idea had a long gestation before it became a book. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Formal and scientific. In maths: convert gestation periods — e.g. 9 months ≈ 40 weeks; compare by finding the difference.