1. carries developing offspring in the uterus during pregnancy
Usage: third person singular present tense of ‘gestate’
2. develops or forms gradually over time
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The female elephant gestates for nearly two years.
• A human mother gestates her baby for approximately nine months.
• The whale gestates its calf for over a year.
• The artist gestates new ideas in her studio for months.
• The company gestates innovative products through careful research.
• His novel gestates slowly as he refines each chapter.