testosterone
UK /tɛˈstɒ.stə.ɹəʊn/ · US /tɛˈstɑ.stəˌɹoʊn/ noun
Forms testosterones
- noun (biochemistry, steroids) A steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex.
- noun (figuratively) Manly behavior, often of an aggressive or foolishly reckless nature. “Mother encouraged James to rely more on intelligence and less on testosterone to deal with the neighbor's son.”
Etymology
From test(is) + -o- + -sterone (“steroid hormone”).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “testosterone”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details