Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical substance produced in the body by an endocrine gland, carried by the blood to other parts of the body where it influences growth, development, or function: A hormone is a signaling molecule that regulates specific physiological processes and maintains homeostasis.

Usage

• Hormones are crucial for coordinating different functions in the body, such as metabolism, growth, and mood.
• The word is typically used in biological, medical, and physiological contexts.
• It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
  • The doctor checked her thyroid hormone levels.
  • Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for the 'fight or flight' response.

Advanced Usage

• "Hormone therapy": Medical treatment that involves administering hormones to supplement deficiencies or alter bodily functions.
  • She underwent hormone therapy as part of her treatment.
• "Hormone imbalance": A condition where there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream.
  • Fatigue can sometimes be a symptom of a hormone imbalance.

Variants and Related Words

• Hormonal (adjective): Relating to or caused by hormones.
  • She experienced hormonal changes during pregnancy.
• Endocrine (adjective): Relating to glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
  • The pituitary gland is a key part of the endocrine system.

Synonyms

• Chemical messenger: A general term for substances like hormones that carry signals.
• Regulator: Something that controls a process, similar to a hormone's function.

Related Phrases (Phrasal verbs are not typically associated with the noun "hormone".)

• "To release a hormone": For a gland to secrete a hormone into the bloodstream.
  • The pancreas releases insulin in response to food.
• "To be driven by hormones": (Idiomatic) To suggest that someone's actions are heavily influenced by biological impulses, especially during puberty.
  • Teenagers are sometimes said to be driven by hormones.

Related Idioms

• "A rush of hormones": Refers to a sudden, strong feeling caused by a surge of hormones, such as adrenaline or oxytocin.
  • Winning the race gave him a rush of hormones.

Noun

1. the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect