# hormone

/ˈhɔɹˌmoʊn/ (US) · /hˈɔːməʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hormone
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. biological messenger

noun · CEFR B2

a natural chemical in your body that tells your organs how to work.

For teachers: a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.

- Insulin is a hormone that helps your body control the amount of sugar in your blood.
- The endocrine system releases hormones directly into the bloodstream, where they travel to target receptors to regulate metabolic processes and maintain homeostasis.

Usage: Usually a countable noun when referring to specific types like insulin or adrenaline.

### 2. synthetic medication

noun · CEFR B2

a man-made version of a natural hormone used as medicine.

For teachers: a synthetic compound or pharmaceutical product designed to mimic the physiological effects of a natural hormone.

- The doctor prescribed a hormone cream to help with her skin condition.
- Patients undergoing certain treatments may require synthetic hormones to compensate for glandular deficiencies or to suppress specific physiological responses.

### 3. plant growth substance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a chemical in plants that helps them grow or flower.

For teachers: any of various organic compounds, such as auxin or gibberellin, that regulate plant growth and development.

- Farmers use a special hormone to make the fruit ripen at the same time.
- Plant hormones, or phytohormones, coordinate growth and responses to environmental stimuli by regulating gene expression and cell division.

### 4. to treat with chemicals

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

to give hormones to an animal or plant to make it grow faster.

For teachers: to treat or inject an organism with hormones, often for agricultural or experimental purposes.

- Some people worry about eating meat from cows that have been hormoned.
- The livestock were hormoned to accelerate muscle development, a practice that remains controversial in several international markets.

Usage: This transitive verb use is relatively rare and often carries a negative connotation in consumer contexts.

## Examples

- Insulin is a hormone that helps control your blood sugar levels.
- During puberty, the body produces a surge of hormones that trigger significant physical and emotional changes.
- The endocrine system relies on a delicate balance of hormones to maintain homeostasis, as even a minor fluctuation in secretion can lead to systemic physiological disruptions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.