growth hormone

American  

noun

1. any substance that stimulates or controls the growth of an organism, especially a species-specific hormone, as the human hormone somatotropin, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. GH

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growth hormone British  

noun

1. Also called: somatotrophin.   human growth hormone.  a hormone synthesized in and secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that promotes growth of the long bones in the limbs and increases the synthesis of protein essential for growth

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growth hormone Scientific  

1. A polypeptide hormone secreted by the anterior portion of the pituitary gland that promotes growth by stimulating protein synthesis. Growth hormone also acts on the liver to produce peptides called somatomedins, which stimulate growth of bone, cartilage, and muscle.

2. Also called somatotropin

3. Any of various natural or synthetic substances that regulate the growth of plants. Auxins in plants are growth hormones.

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Etymology

Origin of growth hormone

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

growth hormone

Some peptides, such as insulin, human growth hormone and glucagon-like peptide-1, have delivered transformational therapeutic effects when administered to humans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Those who have Laron syndrome, also known as growth hormone insensitivity, are unable to use the growth hormone that their body makes.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

"It is the first time we know the exact number of Laron syndrome patients and the many variants of the growth hormone receptor defects," he tells BBC Mundo.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

As growth hormone gradually builds up during sleep, it stimulates the locus coeruleus and encourages wakefulness.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026

He’s working on something else: a growth hormone that will throw their systems out of whack and make them pupate before they’re supposed to.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood