virilisation

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Word: Virilisation

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Virilisation refers to the abnormal development of male sexual characteristics in a female. This often happens due to hormone therapies or issues with the adrenal glands, which are glands in the body that produce hormones.

Usage Instructions:

• "Virilisation" is used in medical or biological contexts, so it's not commonly used in everyday conversation.
• It is important when discussing health issues, particularly those related to hormones and sexual development.

Example Sentence:

• "After undergoing hormone therapy, she experienced virilisation, which included deeper voice and increased body hair."

Advanced Usage:

• In a medical report, you might find a sentence like: "The patient exhibited signs of virilisation, suggesting an underlying adrenal disorder that requires further investigation."

Word Variants:

• Virilize (verb): To cause virilisation, or to develop male characteristics. Example: "The treatment may virilize the patient if not monitored closely."
• Virilized (adjective): Describing someone or something that has developed male characteristics. Example: "The virilized traits were evident in her physical appearance."

Different Meanings:

In a more general sense, "virilisation" can be understood as a process or condition that affects gender characteristics, but it is primarily used in a medical context.

Synonyms:

• Masculinization (though this is more general and can refer to males as well)
• Androgenization (specific to the effect of androgens, which are male hormones)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "virilisation" since it is a specialized term. However, you might encounter phrases like "hormonal imbalance" or "gender dysphoria," which relate to the broader topic of gender and hormone health.

Summary:

Virilisation is a specific medical term used to describe the development of male traits in females due to hormone issues or treatments.

Academic

Noun

1. the abnormal development of male sexual characteristics in a female (usually as the result of hormone therapies or adrenal malfunction)

Synonyms

• masculinization
• masculinisation
• virilization