gastrula

G2A1S1T1R1U1L1A1
/ˈɡæstɹələ/

noun

A stage in the development of embryos of most animals consisting of a three-layered sac of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.

OriginGerman Gastrula ← Ancient Greek γαστήρ →
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Meanings

noungastrula (plural gastrulas or gastrulae)

plural gastrulas · plural gastrulae

  1. embryologyA stage in the development of embryos of most animals consisting of a three-layered sac of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγαστήρ“stomach”
  2. GermanGastrula
  3. Englishgastrula

From German Gastrula, coined by Ernst Haeckel in his 1872 work "Biology of Calcareous Sponges". From gastr- (from Ancient Greek γαστήρ (gastḗr, “stomach”) + Latin -ula.

More words from German, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

gastrula. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gastrula

MLA

“gastrula.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gastrula. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gastrula,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gastrula.

Source: gastrula on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.