Oestrogens

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of steroid hormones that promote the development and regulation of female reproductive systems and secondary sexual characteristics
2. These hormones are key players in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, influencing various physiological processes in women
3. Often associated with the development of breasts and the regulation of the menstrual cycle, these hormones impact both physical and emotional health

Etymology: Oestrogen is the plural's base form, and the plural "oestrogens" simply refers to the group of related hormones rather than a single compound. The term itself is a modern scientific coinage built from classical elements: "oestrus", a Greek-derived word for a period of animal heat, combined with "-gen", from Greek "-genes", meaning "producing" or "born of". The name thus describes a substance that produces oestrus, or heat, in females. The pattern matters for the plural. Scientists used "oestrogen" as a general label for a class of chemically similar steroid hormones, so when several members of that class are discussed together, the plural form is needed. The word therefore names a family of compounds, not one molecule, which is why it is usually written in the plural.

Synonyms: hormones, steroids, estrogens, INVALID, INVALID

Antonyms: androgens, testosterone, masculinizing hormones, INVALID, INVALID