metœstrus Biol.
(mɛˈtiːstrəs)
Also -um, (U.S.) metestrus (-ˈɛstrəs, -iːstrəs), -um.
[f. meta- + œstrus, œstrum.]
The short period following œstrus in many mammals during which sexual activity subsides.
| 1900 W. Heape in Q. Jrnl. Microsc. Sci. XLIV. 8 Metœstrum or the Metœstrous Period.—If conception does not take place during œstrus the activity of the generative organs gradually subsides during a definite period, which I have called the metœstrum; and this is followed..by a long period of rest. 1923 Amer. Jrnl. Anat. XXXII. 340 Follicular phase [of the sexual cycle]: a, proestrus. b, oestrus. c, metoestrus (in certain species where ovulation is separated from oestrus by an interval). 1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. XI. 476/1 After metestrus a relatively longer period of diestrus occurs before proestrus recurs... All these phases can be demonstrated in the guinea pig and rat. 1973 Nature 12 Jan. 129/2 When the drug was administered on other days of the cycle, metoestrus, dioestrus or pro-oestrus, it failed to increase ovulation rate. |
Hence meˈtœstrous a.
| 1900 [see above]. 1956 Nature 4 Feb. 235/1 These groups were of pro-œstrous, œstrous, metœstrous and diœstrous rats. |