(n)hormone produced early in pregnancy by the placenta; detection in the urine and serum is the basis for one kind of pregnancy test, Syn.human chorionic gonadotrophin, HCG
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. (Anat.) (a) The outer membrane which invests the fetus in the womb; also, the similar membrane investing many ova at certain stages of development. (b) The true skin, or cutis. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Bot.) The outer membrane of seeds of plants. [ 1913 Webster ]