Word
testosterone
Phoneticstestos·terone
US/ˌtɛsˈtɑstɝˌoʊn/
UK/tɛstˈɒstəɹˌəʊn/
Definitions
01the hormone
n. a natural chemical in the body that helps develop muscles, a deep voice, and other male features.
n. a steroid hormone that stimulates the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced primarily in the testes.
“The doctor checked his testosterone levels to see why he felt so tired.”
“Synthetic testosterone is sometimes prescribed to patients with hormonal deficiencies, though its use must be strictly monitored by a specialist.”
Technical
Usage
Uncountable in general contexts; countable when referring to specific types or measurements.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02aggressive behavior
n. behavior that is very aggressive, competitive, or risky, often associated with men.
n. a figurative reference to qualities of aggression, competitiveness, or bravado traditionally associated with masculinity.
“The meeting was full of testosterone, with everyone shouting to prove they were right.”
“The locker room was thick with testosterone as the players prepared for the championship final, their adrenaline-fueled shouting echoing off the walls.”
Informal
Teaching tip
This sense is often used with a slightly negative or critical tone to describe men acting in an overly competitive or foolish way.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Men with lower-pitched voices have higher testosterone and greater upper-body strength.” “Will the US army benefit from testing its male soldiers for testosterone levels?” Etymology
From test(is) + -o- + -sterone (“steroid hormone”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/testosterone