Foetus (Noun)
Meaning
An unborn or unhatched vertebrate in the later stages of development showing the main recognizable features of the mature animal.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The doctor examined the ultrasound images to check the development of the foetus.
- During the third trimester of pregnancy, the foetus is fully formed and gains weight rapidly.
- The foetus began to make involuntary movements, such as sucking its thumb, from around 16 weeks.
- Research using foetus cells has led to the development of several new medicines and treatments.
- Abortions are typically only permitted after a certain point in the pregnancy, when the foetus is not yet viable outside the womb.