vä]nˈba(a)(ə)rz-, fə], və], -be(ə)rz-\ noun
Usage: usually capitalized B
Etymology: after Karl E. von Baer died 1876 Estonian embryologist
: a principle in biology: the development of an organism proceeds from the general to the special and embryos belonging to various classes closely resemble one another in their earlier stages but diverge more and more as development proceeds — compare recapitulation theory