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teratology

 - 7 dictionary results

ter⋅a⋅tol⋅o⋅gy

  [ter-uh-tol-uh-jee]
–noun Biology.
the science or study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in organisms.
Use teratology in a Sentence
Origin:
1670–80; terato- + -logy

Related forms:
ter⋅a⋅to⋅log⋅i⋅cal  [ter-uh-tl-oj-i-kuhl] , adjective
ter⋅a⋅tol⋅o⋅gist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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ter·a·tol·o·gy   (těr'ə-tŏl'ə-jē)   
n.  The biological study of birth defects.
ter'a·to·log'i·cal (-ə-tl-ŏj'ĭ-kəl) adj., ter'a·tol'o·gist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

teratology 
"study of marvels and monsters," 1678, from comb. form of Gk. teras (gen. teratos) "marvel, monster" + -logy.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ter·a·tol·o·gy
Pronunciation: "ter-&-'täl-&-jE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -gies
: the study of malformations or serious deviations from the normal type in organisms
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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teratology ter·a·tol·o·gy (těr'ə-tŏl'ə-jē)
n.
The biological study of malformations and monstrosities.

ter'a·to·log'ic (-tl-ŏj'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
teratology   (těr'ə-tŏl'ə-jē)  Pronunciation Key 
The scientific study of birth defects.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

teratology

branch of the biological sciences dealing with the causes, development, description, and classification of congenital malformations in plants and animals and with the experimental production, in some instances, of these malformations. Congenital malformations arise from interruption in the early development of the organism. Malformations in human infants, for example, may occur because the infant's genotype contains mutant genes or includes an abnormal number of chromosomes; they also may occur if early in pregnancy the mother has had German measles (rubella), has taken some injurious drug, or has been exposed to an injurious dosage of radiation. Experimental studies suggest similar types of factors can cause malformations in animals and plants.

Learn more about teratology with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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