womb

Pronunciation: /wuːm/ (American English)

Origin: Old English wamb, from Proto-Germanic wambō

Part of Speech: noun

Meanings:

1. The organ in the lower body of a woman or female mammal where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth; the uterus.
2. A place where something is generated or formed.

Example Sentences:

1. "The baby developed in its mother's womb for nine months."
2. "The cave was like a womb, dark and protective."

Related Words:

• Verb: enwomb (to enclose as if in a womb)
• Adjective: womblike
• Synonyms: uterus, matrix, belly

Memorization Trick: Think of "womb" as a "warm room" for a baby. The "wo-" in womb sounds like "warm," and "-mb" can remind you of "room." A womb is indeed a warm, safe room where a baby grows.

Additional Notes: The word "womb" is often used metaphorically to describe a place of origin or development, as in "the womb of time" or "in the womb of the earth."