n.
Pronunciation: bla- ' st ē -m ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -mas or -ma · ta \ -m ə -t ə \
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek blast ē ma offshoot, from blastanein
Date: circa 1823
: a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of growth and differentiation
– blas · te · mal \ -m ə l \ or blas · te · mat · ic \ ˌ blas-t ə - ' ma-tik \ adjective