[ 'ɛmbrɪəʊ ]
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, especially an unborn human in the first eight weeks from conception. Compare with fetus .
2》 Botany the part of a seed which develops into a new plant.
Phrases
in ~ at a rudimentary stage.
Derivatives
~nal 'ɛmbrɪən(ə)l adjective
Origin
ME: via late L. from Gk embruon 'fetus', from em- 'into' + bruein 'grow'.