Meanings
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1
noun
a plant, animal, or human in the earliest stages of development
The embryo develops rapidly after fertilization.
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2
noun
a rudimentary plant inside a seed
The seed contains a tiny embryo and stored food.
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3
noun
an early, undeveloped form of something
The plan was still an embryo of the final proposal.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin embryo, from Ancient Greek embryon, "young one in the womb," built from en, "in," plus a root meaning "to grow or swell." The literal image is growth within.