# puberty

/ˈpjubɝti/ (US) · /pjˈuːbəti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puberty
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. human physical development

noun · CEFR B2

the period during which a child's body changes physically into an adult body.

For teachers: the developmental phase in humans characterized by the onset of hormonal changes and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

- Many teenagers feel moody or tired as they go through puberty.
- During puberty, the pituitary gland releases hormones that signal the body to begin significant physical and emotional transitions into adulthood.

### 2. botany

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the time when a plant starts to produce flowers.

For teachers: the period or stage at which a plant begins its first flowering cycle.

- The gardener waited for the young shrubs to reach puberty and bloom.
- In certain perennial species, the transition to botanical puberty is triggered by specific environmental cues such as day length and temperature.

## Examples

- Most children start puberty between the ages of eight and fourteen.
- During puberty, teenagers often experience rapid growth spurts and changes in their voice and skin.
- The biological onset of puberty is triggered by the hypothalamus, which signals the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the gonads into activity.

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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.