hormone

Meaning

Noun

1. Any substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity.
2. A synthetic compound with the same activity.
3. (colloquial) A synthetic compound with the same activity.
4. Any similar substance in plants.

Verb

To treat with hormones.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɔːməʊn/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ὁρμῶν (hormôn), present participle of ὁρμάω (hormáō, “to set in motion, to urge on”), from ὁρμή (hormḗ, “rapid motion forwards, onrush, onset, assault, impulse to do a thing, effort”).