hormone Physiol.
(ˈhɔːməʊn)
[ad. Gr. ὁρµῶν, pres. pple. of ὁρµᾶν to set in motion (f. ὁρµή onset, impulse), with assimilation to -one.]
1. a. Any of numerous organic compounds that are secreted into the body fluids of an animal, particularly the bloodstream, by a specific group of cells and regulate some specific physiological activity of other cells; also, any synthetic compound having such an effect.
| 1905 E. H. Starling in Lancet 5 Aug. 340/1 These chemical messengers, however, of ‘hormones’..as we might call them. 1906 ― Recent Adv. Physiol. Digest. 75 The first products of digestion act on the pyloric mucous membrane, and produce in this membrane a substance which is absorbed into the blood stream, and carried to all the glands of the stomach, where it acts as a specific excitant of their secretory activity. This substance may be called the gastric secretin or gastric hormone. 1924 [see growth-hormone s.v. growth1 5]. 1930 R. A. Fisher Genet. Theory Nat. Selection 131 The investigation of the influence of the sex hormones has shown how genetic modifications of the whole species can be made to manifest themselves in one sex only. 1931, etc. [see gonadotrophic, -tropic a.]. 1951 A. Grollman Pharmacol. & Therapeutics xxvi. 581 The estrogenic hormones are responsible for certain secondary sex characteristics in the female, such as the plumage markings of some birds. 1955 Sci. News Let. 24 Sept. 198/3 Hormones are chemicals made by the adrenal, sex, pituitary and other body glands. 1959 A. C. Guyton Function Human Body i. 11 Adrenocortical hormones secreted by the two adrenal cortices..control the passage of proteins, salts, and perhaps other substances through the cell walls. 1967 Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia (ed. 25) 1277/2 Synthetic sex hormones have usually been developed from the basic steroid structure of the naturally occuring testosterone. 1968 Passmore & Robson Compan. Med. Stud. I. xxv. 40/1 Insulin is a powerful hormone whose actions affect the structure and function of every organ in the body. 1969 Times 16 June 3/8 Testosterone..is the chief of the male sex hormones known as androgens. 1970 W. B. Yapp Introd. Animal Physiol. (ed. 3) ii. 59 The acid of the gastric juice is secreted under the action of gastrin, a hormone secreted and liberated into the blood by the stomach wall..when it is mechanically stimulated. |
b. Restricted to those compounds that have a stimulating (rather than an inhibiting) effect (
cf. chalone). Now
rare.
| 1914, etc. [see chalone]. 1955 J. T. & O. T. Lewis tr. Houssay's Human Physiol. (ed. 2) li. 561 The word ‘hormone’ is used also for substances that do not excite activity but rather inhibit it. According to Sharpey-Schafer, the term ‘autocoid’ would be appropriate for all chemical messengers; ‘hormone’ for chemical messengers that stimulate activity; and ‘chalone’ for those which inhibit it. This terminology has not been generally adopted. |
2. Any of numerous organic compounds produced by plants which regulate growth and other physiological activities; also, any synthetic compound having such an effect.
| 1917 Bot. Gaz. LXIII. 50 In other plants the hypothetical geotropic substance might be associated with the shoot-forming hormone. 1927 Biol. Abstr. I. 244/2 Growth hormone of Zea coleoptile tips. 1951 Jrnl. Chem. Education XXVIII. 113 We now use plant hormones to propagate plants, prevent preharvest drop of apples,..and defoliate plants without killing the stems. 1952 Meyer & Anderson Plant Physiol. (ed. 2) xxviii. 555 Other terms commonly used to designate plant hormones are phytohormones, growth hormones, growth substances, and growth regulators. 1960 Biol. Abstr. XXXV. 4920/1 The action of synthetic plant hormones on pathogenic fungi was studied. 1966 R. M. Devlin Plant Physiol. xxii. 532 Bud dormancy in woody species may be regulated by some balance or ratio between a dormancy-inducing hormone and gibberellins. 1968 Y. Vardar (title) Transport of plant hormones. 1970 [see cytokinin]. 1970 Wareing & Phillips Control of Growth & Differentiation in Plants iv. 62 Whereas the effects of most animal hormones are rather specific, a plant hormone can elicit a wide range of responses depending upon the type of organ or tissue in which it is acting. |
3. attrib. and
Comb., as
hormone activity,
hormone balance,
hormone therapy,
hormone treatment,
hormone weedkiller;
hormone-like adj.;
hormone-controlled ppl. adj.;
hormone cream, a skin cream that contains one or more sex hormones.
| 1936 Discovery Nov. 362/1 Such complex subjects as inhibition, reflex action, hormone activity, etc. |
| 1914 H. R. Harrower Pract. Hormone Therapy iii. 45 The intricacies of the hormone balance are fully as complicated as those of the nervous system. 1950 Sci. News XV. 134 Rheumatoid arthritis is related to the hormone balance of the body. 1963 A. Heron Towards Quaker View of Sex 54 In most mammals, the oestrous cycle of the female, hormone-controlled, is an important factor. |
| 1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Yr. 1938 588/1 The group of hormone and vitamin creams, etc., known collectively as ‘biological’ preparations. 1961 ‘R. M. Dashwood’ Provincial Daughter 85 A very good Hormone Cream which many clients find helpful after a certain age. 1962 Punch 12 Dec. 845/2 The Consumers' Association finds no reason for buying oestrogenic hormone creams. |
| 1937 Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. VIII. 338 Characteristic responses of plants to hormone-like substances have been described. |
| 1914 H. R. Harrower Pract. Hormone Therapy p. xii, At present the application of hormone therapy in general practice is the exception rather than the rule. 1921 Endocrinology V. 538 Convincing results of hormone therapy in gynecology. 1949 Koestler Insight & Outlook x. 138 Hormone therapy and neuro⁓surgery aim at restoring equilibrium by action somewhere in the middle. 1955 A. Huxley Let. 5 Feb. (1969) 731 Hormone treatment is now being given. 1972 Lancet 3 June 1246/2 In 1 case hormone treatment was given for mastitis. |
| 1950 N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Apr. 328/3 There is no danger in using hormone weedkillers on pastures. |
Hence
ˈhormonize v. trans., to treat with a hormone;
ˈhormonized ppl. a., treated with a hormone; containing a hormone.
| 1940 Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. XXXVII. 1015 Hormonized Dust gave satisfactory results with many kinds of cuttings. Ibid. 1016 Forty-seven days after potting, plants rooted with Hormonized Dust were 7 days ahead of untreated plants in shoot production. 1947 Biol. Abstr. XXI. 2043/1 Field expts. with potatoes hormonized by heteroauxin. 1950 Ibid. XXIV. 1611/2 The germination of seeds of endive and Brussels sprouts is not improved by hormonizing the seeds or fruits with indole-acetic acid. 1959 Times 16 Feb. 15/5 Its carcass did not set well on cooling, and this had led to most of the butchers' complaints about hormonized beef. 1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 16 Feb. 78/1 America's top authorities confirm there is absolutely no risk with hormonized meat. |
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Add:
[3.] hormone replacement (therapy) Gynæcol., the replacement of oestrogenic hormones as a means of alleviating the unpleasant symptoms experienced by some menopausal women;
abbrev. HRT s.v. *
H III.
| [1965 Canad. Med. Assoc. Jrnl. 1 May 962/1 This communication will review a new concept in medicine, long-term replacement therapy for ovarian failure, including the menopause.] 1967 Postgraduate Med. Jrnl. Dec. (Suppl.) (heading) Fertility control and ovarian hormone replacement therapy. Proceedings of a Conference held at the Royal College of Surgeons, September 22, 1966. 1973 Good Housekeeping July 111/1 Gynaecologists who approve of Hormone Replacement at the time of the menopause and use it for their private patients. 1983 S. Kitzinger Woman's Experience of Sex vii. 236 Hormone replacement therapy was hailed in the 1960s as a panacea for all menopausal problems. 1991 Pulse 6 Apr. 2/5 Hormone replacement therapy without the bleed will be a reality from next week. |