estrogen

[ es-truh-juhn ]

nounBiochemistry.
  1. any of several major sex hormones produced primarily by the ovarian follicles of mammals, capable of inducingestrus, developing and maintaining secondary female sex characteristics, and preparing the uterus for the reception of a fertilized egg: used, especially in synthetic form, as a component of oral contraceptives, in certain cancer treatments, and in other therapies.

Origin of estrogen

1
First recorded in 1925–30; estr(us) + -o- + -gen

Other words from estrogen

  • an·ti·es·tro·gen, noun

Words Nearby estrogen

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How to use estrogen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for estrogen

estrogen

/ (ˈɛstrədʒən, ˈiːstrə-) /


noun
  1. the usual US spelling of oestrogen

Derived forms of estrogen

  • estrogenic (ˌɛstrəˈdʒɛnɪk, ˌiːstrə-), adjective
  • estrogenically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for estrogen

estrogen

[ ĕstrə-jən ]


  1. Any of a group of steroid hormones that primarily regulate the growth, development, and function of the female reproductive system. The main sources of estrogen in the body are the ovaries and the placenta. Estrogen-like compounds are also formed by certain plants.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for estrogen

estrogen

[ (es-truh-juhn) ]


A group of hormones, secreted mainly by the ovaries, that influence the female reproductive system in many ways, notably in preparing the body for ovulation and in the development of female secondary sex characteristics.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.