progesterone
UK /pɹəˈd͡ʒɛstəɹəʊn/ · US /pɹoʊˈd͡ʒɛstəˌɹoʊn/ noun
Forms progesterones
- noun (biochemistry, steroids, uncountable) A steroid hormone, secreted by the ovaries, whose function is to prepare the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized ovum and to maintain pregnancy.
- noun (biochemistry, steroids, countable) A synthetic version of the compound, used in contraceptive pills and other pharmaceutical products.
Synonyms
Etymology
From pro- + Latin gestāre (“to bear, to carry”) + English -one.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “progesterone”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details