growth hormone

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

growth hormone

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

growth hormone

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of growth hormone¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Rogan, despite being open to every other idiotic idea under the sun, has dismissed Johnson’s claims as “preposterous” and insisted Johnson is using steroids or human growth hormone.

From Salon

Exactly why exercise has this beneficial effect is unknown, but ideas include the impact on growth hormones, inflammation levels in the body and how the immune system functions - which patrols the body for cancer.

From BBC

But many American farmers use growth hormones as a standard part of their beef production.

From BBC

Many American farmers use growth hormones as a standard part of their beef production, something that was banned in the UK and the European Union in the 1980s.

From BBC

I realised some of the serums on the market contain a synthetic growth hormone.

From BBC