impregnation

Definitions

1. 1.(Biol.) The fusion of a female germ cell (ovum) with a male germ cell (in animals, a spermatozoön) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation. Note: In the broadest biological sense, impregnation, or sexual generation, consists simply in the coalescence of two similar masses of protoplasmic matter, either derived from different parts of the same organism or from two distinct organisms. From the single mass, which results from the fusion, or coalescence, of these two masses, a new organism develops.
2. 2.That with which anything is impregnated. Derham.
3. 3.Intimate mixture; influsion; saturation.
4. 4.(Mining) An ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "impregnation" mean?
• What is another word for "impregnation"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is impregnation.

• What is that with which anything is impregnated. Derham called?
• What is intimate mixture; influsion; saturation called?
• What is an ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond called?