the formation of vertebrae or segmentation resembling vertebrae
vertebration in American English
(ˌvɜrtəˈbreɪʃən)
noun
vertebral formation; segmentation into vertebrae
vertebration in American English
(ˌvɜːrtəˈbreiʃən)
noun
vertebrate formation
Word origin
[1880–85; vertebrate + -ion]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, automatism, impressionism, jackpot, pari-mutuel-ion is a suffix, appearing in words of Latin origin, denoting action or condition, usedin Latin and in English to form nouns from stems of Latin adjectives (communion; union), verbs (legion; opinion), and esp. past participles (allusion; creation; fusion; notion; torsion)