juvenile hormone

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of insect and plant hormones acting to inhibit the molting of a juvenile insect into its adult form.

juvenile hormone

noun

1. a hormone, secreted by insects from a pair of glands behind the brain, that promotes the growth of larval characteristics and inhibits metamorphosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of juvenile hormone¹

First recorded in 1935–40