gestation
/dʒeˈsteɪʃən/noun
mass noun
1- the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth怀孕, 妊娠。
1.1
- the duration of such a process怀孕期, 妊娠期。
1.2
- figurative the development of something over a period of time〈喻〉形成, 孕育：
various ideas are in the process of gestation.
各种想法正在酝酿之中。
词源
mid 16th cent. （denoting an excursion on horseback, in a carriage, etc., considered as exercise）： from Latin gestatio（ n-）, from gestare 'carry, carry in the womb', frequentative of gerere 'carry'.