gestation

/dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/
noun
  1. The process of carrying or developing something inside the body before birth; pregnancy.
    • During gestation, the mother needs extra nutrients to support the growing fetus.
    • The gestation of a human baby usually lasts about nine months.
    • Elephants have the longest gestation of any land animal, lasting nearly two years.
  2. The period of time during which an idea, plan, or project develops before it is ready to be presented or put into action.
    • The new policy had a gestation of several years before it was finally announced.
    • The novel was the result of a long gestation in the author's mind.
    • Good inventions often require a period of gestation before they become successful.
Antonyms
What does "gestation" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean