placenta -
n. (pl.
placentae or
placentas)
1 a flattened circular organ in the
uterus of pregnant mammals nourishing and maintaining the foetus through the umbilical cord and expelled after birth.
2 (in flowers) part of the ovary wall carrying the ovules.
placental adj. [L f. Gk plakous -ountos flat cake f. the root of plax plakos flat plate]
