Word
pheromone
US/ˈfɛɹəˌmoʊn/
UK/fˈɛɹəmˌəʊn/
Definition
n. a chemical substance that animals release to send messages to others of their own kind. It can signal things like danger, food, or a desire to mate.
n. a chemical substance secreted by an organism that triggers a specific behavioural or physiological response in another member of the same species. Often used to facilitate communication regarding social hierarchy, alarm, or sexual attraction.
Examples
“The male moth follows the scent of a pheromone to find a mate.”
“Scientists are studying how certain insects use a specific pheromone to warn others in the colony about a nearby predator.”
“While humans do not consciously perceive pheromones in the same way as many mammals, research suggests that these chemical signals may still influence subconscious social and romantic preferences.”
Examples
simple
“The male moth follows the scent of a pheromone to find a mate.”
contextual
“Scientists are studying how certain insects use a specific pheromone to warn others in the colony about a nearby predator.”
complex
“While humans do not consciously perceive pheromones in the same way as many mammals, research suggests that these chemical signals may still influence subconscious social and romantic preferences.”
Real-World Examples
“But while humans can find smells pleasant, malodorous or something in between, there's no evidence we can detect and respond to pheromones or that we produce them.” “There are a handful of exceptions, such as sensory neurons that register the presence of sex-specific pheromones.” Etymology
From φέρω (phérō, “I bring, bear, carry”) and hormone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/pheromone