Conception

Etymology

Middle English concepcioun, from Anglo-French concepcion, from Latin conception-, conceptio, from concipere

• Date: 14th century

Definitions

• 1 a (1) : the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both (2) : embryo, fetus

b : beginning <joy had the like conception in our eyes — Shakespeare>

• 2 a : the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols

b : a general idea : concept

c : a complex product of abstract or reflective thinking

d : the sum of a person's ideas and beliefs concerning something

• 3 : the originating of something in the mind

Description

Fertilisation (also known as conception, fecundation and syngamy), is the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism. In animals, the process involves a sperm fusing with an ovum, which eventually leads to the development of an embryo. Depending on the animal species, the process can occur within the body of the female in internal fertilisation, or outside in the case of external fertilisation. The entire process of development of new individuals is called procreation, the act of species reproduction.