Definition

1. Noun:
   • The onset of breast development in a female, marking the beginning of puberty: "Thelarche" is a medical and biological term that refers specifically to the first stage of female pubertal development, characterized by the appearance of breast buds under the nipple.

Usage

• "Thelarche" is a singular, uncountable noun used in formal, clinical, or scientific contexts.
• It describes a specific developmental event, not the ongoing state of having breasts.
• It is typically used with verbs like , , , or .

Examples

• In most girls, thelarche occurs between the ages of 8 and 13.
• The pediatrician noted that thelarche had begun, which is a normal sign of early puberty.
• Premature thelarche refers to isolated breast development before age 8 without other signs of puberty.

Advanced Usage

• "Premature thelarche": A condition where breast development begins unusually early in infancy or childhood, often without progression to full puberty.
• "Delayed thelarche": A condition where the onset of breast development occurs later than the typical age range.

Variants and Related Words

• Menarche (noun): The first occurrence of menstruation, which typically happens after thelarche.
• Pubarche (noun): The first appearance of pubic hair.
• Adrenarche (noun): The increase in activity of the adrenal glands, often associated with pubarche.
• Gonadarche (noun): The activation of the gonads (ovaries or testes) at puberty.

Synonyms

• Onset of breast development: This is a descriptive phrase rather than a direct synonym.
• Breast budding: A more informal, descriptive term used in some clinical settings.

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, but the state before thelarche could be described as prepubertal or pre-thelarche.

Noun

1. the start of breast development in a woman at the beginning of puberty