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Capable of living; denoting a fetus sufficiently developed to live outside of the uterus. [Fr. fr. vie, life, fr. L. vita]
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vi·a·ble 'vī-ə-bəl adj
1) capable of living <the skin graft was \viable> <\viable cancer cells> esp having attained such form and development as to be normally capable of living outside the uterus often used of a human fetus at seven months but may be interpreted according to the state of the art of medicine <a \viable fetus is one sufficiently developed for extrauterine survival (Words & Phrases)> <the fetus is considered \viable when it weighs 500 grams or more and the pregnancy is over 20 weeks in duration (S. W. Jacob & C. A. Francone)>
2) capable of growing or developing <\viable eggs>
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vi·a·ble (viґə-bəl) capable of living; especially said of a fetus that has reached such a stage of development that it can live outside of the uterus. This usually connotes a fetus that weighs at least 500 gm and has reached a gestational age of 20 weeks (22 weeks after fertilization).Medical dictionary. 2011.