/ ˌembriˈɒnɪk; NAmE -ˈɑːnɪk/ adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
( formal ) in an early stage of development :
The plan, as yet, only exists in embryonic form.
2.
( technical ) of an embryo :
embryonic cells
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from late Latin embryo , embryon- embryo + -ic .