Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

lanugo

noun

/ləˈnjuːɡoʊ/

Definition

Lanugo refers to the soft, fine hair that covers the body of a fetus, particularly during the later stages of development.

Examples

The newborns often have patches of lanugo that usually fall out within a few weeks.
Some individuals with certain health conditions may retain lanugo even into adulthood.
The presence of lanugo can sometimes indicate nutritional deficiencies in adults.

Meaning

In the context of human development, lanugo is a natural phenomenon that typically disappears before birth, but it can also refer to similar fine hairs found on the body in other contexts.