fetus

UK/ˈfiːtəs/US/ˈfiːtəs/

nounB2+Common in everyday speech and writing · #6,610 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: fetuses

A fetus is an unborn young in the later stages of development. A healthy fetus, the fetus develops, fetus and embryo.

In humans it is called an embryo for the first eight weeks and a fetus after that, which is a real clinical distinction rather than a nicety. Britain spells it foetus, which is a later and etymologically mistaken form.

Definitions of fetus

1nounfetusAn unborn young in the later stages of development.B2+
“The scan showed the fetus moving and its tiny heart beating.”

fetus is a young.

Also accepted in games: foetus

Where it comes from

Latin fetus means offspring or a bringing forth.

Proto-Indo-European
*dʰeh₁(y)-
Latin
fētus — offspring
English, today
fetus

A Latin fētus (“offspring”). a doublet of fawn.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

fetus in the wild

When used to perform an abortion, an intact D&E can occur after feticide or on a live fetus.
Intact dilation and extraction
In the United States, where federal law describes an intact D&E on a live fetus as a partial-birth abortion, the procedure is uncommon.
Intact dilation and extraction
The placenta connects to the fetus via the umbilical cord, and on the opposite aspect to the maternal uterus in a species-dependent manner.
Placenta
One hypothesis is that the mass begins as a normal fetus but becomes enveloped inside its twin.
Fetus in fetu
Without treatment, there is an almost 100% mortality rate of one or all fetuses.
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the fētus family

fetus fawn

fetus — used about once every 2,055 pages · #6,610 · point at the bar for the others

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