tɛˈreɪtə

Definitions

1. noun

a monster or abnormal creature in Greek mythology, often depicted as a birth defect or congenital anomaly

“In ancient Greek mythology, the hero Hercules slew the Lernaean Hydra and its offspring, which included the terata born from its severed heads.”

2. noun

an abnormal or monstrous organism in embryonic development

“The terata found in the fetus were the result of a genetic mutation affecting the development of the embryo.”