ontogeny

[ on-toj-uh-nee ]
/ ɒnˈtɒdʒ ə ni /

noun Biology.

the development or developmental history of an individual organism.
Also on·to·gen·e·sis [on-tuh-jen-uh-sis] /ˌɒn təˈdʒɛn ə sɪs/.
Compare phylogeny.

Origin of ontogeny

First recorded in 1870–75; onto- + -geny

OTHER WORDS FROM ontogeny

on·to·ge·net·ic [on-tuh-juh-net-ik] /ˌɒn tə dʒəˈnɛt ɪk/, on·to·ge·net·i·cal, on·to·gen·ic, adjective on·to·ge·net·i·cal·ly, on·to·gen·i·cal·ly, adverb on·tog·e·nist, noun

Example sentences from the Web for ontogenesis

British Dictionary definitions for ontogenesis

ontogeny

ontogenesis (ˌɒntəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs)

/ (ɒnˈtɒdʒənɪ) /

noun

the entire sequence of events involved in the development of an individual organism Compare phylogeny

Derived forms of ontogeny

ontogenic (ˌɒntəˈdʒɛnɪk) or ontogenetic (ˌɒntədʒɪˈnɛtɪk), adjective ontogenically or ontogenetically, adverb

Medical definitions for ontogenesis (1 of 2)

ontogenesis
[ ŏn′tō-jĕnĭ-sĭs ]

n.

ontogeny

Medical definitions for ontogenesis (2 of 2)

ontogeny
[ ŏn-tŏjə-nē ]

n.

The origin and development of an individual organism from embryo to adult. ontogenesis

Scientific definitions for ontogenesis

ontogeny
[ ŏn-tŏjə-nē ]

The origin and development of an individual organism from embryo to adult.