Definitions for vestigial
ves·ti·gial

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. vestigial, rudimentaryadjective

   not fully developed in mature animals

   "rudimentary wings"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. vestigialadjective

   Of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a trace from the past.

2. vestigialadjective

   Not fully developed in mature animals.

3. Etymology: vestige + -al

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. vestigial

   Vestigiality is the retention, during the process of evolution, of genetically determined structures or attributes that have lost some or all of the ancestral function in a given species. Assessment of the vestigiality must generally rely on comparison with homologous features in related species. The emergence of vestigiality occurs by normal evolutionary processes, typically by loss of function of a feature that is no longer subject to positive selection pressures when it loses its value in a changing environment. The feature may be selected against more urgently when its function becomes definitively harmful, but if the lack of the feature provides no advantage, and its presence provides no disadvantage, the feature may not be phased out by natural selection and persist across species. Examples of vestigial structures (also called degenerate, atrophied, or rudimentary organs) are the loss of functional wings in island-dwelling birds; the human vomeronasal organ; and the hindlimbs of the snake and whale.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Vestigialadjective

   of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a vestige

EntomologyRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Vestigial

   small or degenerate: only a trace or remnant of a previously functional organ.

Matched Categories

1. • Biology

How to pronounce vestigial?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say vestigial in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of vestigial in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of vestigial in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of vestigial in a Sentence

1. Ursula K. Le Guin:

   Virginity is now a mere preamble or waiting room to be got out of as soon as possible; it is without significance. Old age is similarly a waiting room, where you go after life's over and wait for cancer or a stroke. The years before and after the menstrual years are vestigial: the only meaningful condition left to women is that of fruitfulness.

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