English edit

Etymology edit

Back-formation from gestation.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /d͡ʒɛsˈteɪt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪt

Verb edit

gestate (third-person singular simple present gestates, present participle gestating, simple past and past participle gestated)

  1. (intransitive) To carry offspring in the uterus from conception to delivery.
    • 2012, H. DeWayne Ashmead, Amino Acid Chelation in Human and Animal Nutrition, CRC Press, →ISBN:
      In the early 1960s, a study was conducted in which gestating rats were given diets containing the same mineral content of mineral salts or amino acid chelates.
  2. (by extension, intransitive) To develop an idea.
    • 1986, David Leavitt, The Lost Language of Cranes, paperback edition, Penguin, page 112:
      Philip wondered at that five-year gap. Perhaps it simply proved that a work of genius takes longer to gestate than a work of mere competent brilliance.

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Anagrams edit

Latin edit

Participle edit

gestāte

  1. vocative masculine singular of gestātus

Spanish edit

Verb edit

gestate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of gestar combined with te