placenta
noun
pla·cen·ta
plə-ˈsen-tə 
plural placentas or placentae
plə-ˈsen-(ˌ)tē
1
: the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues
also
: an analogous organ in another animal
2
: a sporangium-bearing surface
especially
: the part of the carpel bearing ovules
Examples of placenta in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once their babies are born, the infants keep regenerating their placentas, growing gigantic mushroom caps covered in spirals from their stomachs.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Teigen experienced a partial placenta abruption at 20 weeks, which means the placenta separated from the uterus wall too early.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Share [Findings] Microplastics were found in sixty-two of sixty-two human placentas from a biobank in Texas.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
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Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Teigen experienced a partial placenta abruption at 20 weeks, which means the placenta separated from the uterus wall too early.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Share [Findings] Microplastics were found in sixty-two of sixty-two human placentas from a biobank in Texas.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for placenta
Dictionary Entries Near placenta
Cite this Entry
“Placenta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/placenta. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
placenta
noun
pla·cen·ta
plə-ˈsent-ə
plural placentas or placentae
-ˈsent-ē
: the organ in most mammals by which the fetus is joined to the uterus of the mother and is nourished
placental
adjective
-ˈsent-ᵊl
Medical Definition
placenta
noun
pla·cen·ta
plə-ˈsent-ə
plural placentas or placentae
-ˈsent-(ˌ)ē
: the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues permitting exchange of material by diffusion between the maternal and fetal vascular systems but without direct contact between maternal and fetal blood and typically involving the interlocking of fingerlike vascular chorionic villi with corresponding modified areas of the uterine mucosa see abruptio placentae
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