placenta
placenta Lexical Profile
placenta Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A temporary vascular organ in the uterus of most pregnant mammals that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall via the umbilical cord, providing oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products.
"The ultrasound confirmed that the placenta was positioned normally and delivering steady blood flow to the fetus."
In flowering plants, the part of the ovary wall to which the ovules or seeds are attached.
"When slicing open a bell pepper, you can clearly see the pale central placenta holding the cluster of seeds."
• Rhymes for placenta
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from Modern Latin placenta uterina ('uterine cake'), from Latin placenta ('flat cake'), which itself derived from Ancient Greek plakous ('flat cake'), in reference to the round, flat shape of the human organ.