invaginate

Meanings

Adjective

• sheathed
• Having one portion of a hollow organ drawn back within another portion.

Verb

• To fold up or enclose into a sheath-like or pouch-like structure, either naturally or as part of a surgical procedure.
• To turn or fold inwardly.
• To fold inward to create a hollow space where none had existed, as with a gastrula forming from a blastula.

Origin

• From Medieval Latin invāgīnātus, past participle of Medieval Latin invāgīnāre, from in- + vāgīna.