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
Studies also show forever chemicals can transfer to children through the placenta or breastfeeding.
—
Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Newborns are given vitamin K after birth since the transport of vitamin K through the placenta is poor.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2024
Basically there are a handful of vaccines that stimulate your immune system and create protective antibodies that pass through the placenta and last for months in the baby’s body—essentially keeping kiddos safe as their immune systems are ramping up.
—Ashley Abramson, SELF, 2 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for placenta 
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Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Newborns are given vitamin K after birth since the transport of vitamin K through the placenta is poor.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2024
Basically there are a handful of vaccines that stimulate your immune system and create protective antibodies that pass through the placenta and last for months in the baby’s body—essentially keeping kiddos safe as their immune systems are ramping up.
—Ashley Abramson, SELF, 2 Oct. 2024
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
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 29 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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