- Preformation
- Preformation \Pre`for*ma"tion\, n. (Biol.) An old theory of the pre["e]xistence of germs. Cf. {Embo[^i]tement}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Preformation
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préformation — [ prefɔrmasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1710; de pré et formation ♦ Hist. Sc. L une des deux théories biologiques en lutte aux XVIIe et XVIIIe s., selon laquelle l organisme vivant est complètement constitué dans le germe. « La préformation entraînait… … Encyclopédie Universelle
preformation — [prē΄fôr mā′shən] n. 1. previous formation 2. Biol. a former theory that every germ cell contains every part of the future organism in miniature, development being merely growth in size … English World dictionary
Préformation — Théorie de la préformation Homunculus de Hartsoeker La théorie de la préformation a été formulée pour expliquer le développement embryonnaire par le déploiement de structures préexistantes dans l œuf. Cette théorie s est historiquement opposée à… … Wikipédia en Français
préformation — (pré for ma sion) s. f. Action de préformer. • La préformation et l évolution des corps organisés sont une des lois les plus générales de la nature, BONNET Contempl. nat. XII, 42 … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
preformation — noun a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell • Syn: ↑theory of preformation • Derivationally related… … Useful english dictionary
preformation theory — preformation theory. См. теория преформизма. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) … Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.
Preformation theory — The Preformation theory states that knowledge is possible only because God has endowed humans with certain innate ideas along with dispositions or aptitudes in certain ways. This was recognized by Immanuel Kant as an alternative to his theory… … Wikipedia
preformation — noun Date: 1732 1. previous formation 2. the now discredited theory that every germ cell contains the organism of its kind fully formed and that development involves merely an increase in size compare epigenesis 1, homunculus 2 • preformationist… … New Collegiate Dictionary
preformation — n. [L. prae, before; forma, shape] The archaic theory that the egg (or sperm or zygote) contains a preformed adult in minature, and only nourishment is required during development … Dictionary of invertebrate zoology
preformation — preformationary, adj. /pree fawr may sheuhn/, n. 1. previous formation. 2. Biol. (formerly) the theory that the individual, with all its parts, preexists in the germ cell and grows from microscopic to normal proportions during embryogenesis… … Universalium
