embryo
gb/ˈɛmbɹioʊ/ us/ˈɛmbɹioʊ/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
B2
entity
1
early unborn animal or human
A baby animal or human that is growing in the mother, or in an egg or lab dish, in the very early stage before its body is fully formed.
Usage pattern:
an embryo of [a human/animal]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse “embryo” with “fetus” or “baby” and use them as exact synonyms. In biology and medicine, “embryo” is the very early stage, and “fetus” is the later stage of development before birth. Learners also sometimes say “an embryo baby,” which is unnatural; just say “an embryo.”
Synonyms
fetus (Usually refers to a later stage of development in the womb, after the embryo stage; often used more broadly in everyday language.)
|
unborn baby (Less technical, more emotional or everyday term, does not focus on the very early developmental stage.)
Antonyms
adult (Refers to a fully grown organism, the opposite end of the life stage from an embryo.)
|
newborn (A baby that has already been born, unlike an embryo which is still developing before birth.)
Collocations
human embryo
|early embryo
|embryo development
|embryo research
|embryo transfer
|embryo donation
Themes
science
|biology
|medicine
|health
|body
Examples
- The doctor explained that the embryo is only a few weeks old.
- Scientists are studying how a single cell becomes a complex embryo.
- The law restricts the use of human embryos in medical research.
- The embryo develops inside the uterus during the earliest stages of pregnancy.
- Each fertilized egg may grow into a separate embryo.
Learner examples
- The embryo is very small and cannot be seen without help.
- The woman was happy when she learned the embryo was healthy.
- In the lab, they watched the embryo grow day by day.
- The embryo needs the mother’s body to grow.
- A chicken embryo grows inside the egg.
Noun
formal
C1
state
2
very early undeveloped form
The first very simple form of an idea, plan, or thing that is not developed yet.
Usage pattern:
[something] in embryo
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use “embryo” for any kind of start, like “the embryo of the movie” in casual speech. In everyday language, it is more natural to say “the beginning of the movie” or “the early version of the movie.” This figurative use of “embryo” is mostly formal or literary and often appears in the phrase “in embryo.”
Synonyms
beginning (General word for the start of something; less specific about being undeveloped or small.)
|
rudiment (Formal term for the basic, first parts of something; slightly more technical and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
fully developed (Describes something that has reached its complete, mature form, which contrasts with the early, simple state of an embryo.)
|
mature (Suggests something is complete and well formed, the opposite of being at an early, embryo stage.)
Collocations
in embryo
|an embryo idea
|an embryo plan
|democracy in embryo
Themes
development
|society
|education
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The policy is still only an embryo and will need much more work.
- They saw in this small group the embryo of a new political movement.
- Her notes contained the embryo of a powerful novel.
- The project is still in embryo and has not yet received funding.
- These early talks were the embryo of the peace agreement.
Learner examples
- The company is still an embryo and very small.
- This idea is only an embryo, but it may grow.
- Our plan is in embryo, so nothing is final.
- The club started as an embryo with just three people.
- This is the embryo of a big change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
embryo
IPA
GB/ˈɛmbɹioʊ/
US/ˈɛmbɹioʊ/
Syllables & stress
em - bryo (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (em)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: embryo
- Plural: embryoes, embryos
Word family
Forms
embryoes
noun
embryos
noun
Core family
embryonic
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
embryology
noun
embryologist
noun
Expressions
in embryo
1/ˈɪn ˈɛmbɹioʊ/
fixed phrase
formal
at a very early stage
Used to say that something has started but is still very small and not developed yet.
Examples
- The plan is still in embryo and will change a lot.
- This committee is the organization in embryo.
- Democracy in the country exists only in embryo.