Main Entry: hor·mone

Pronunciation: \ˈhȯr-ˌmōn\

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek hormōn, present participle of horman to stir up, from hormē impulse, assault; akin to Greek ornynai to rouse — more at rise

Date: 1905

1 : a product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually remote from its point of origin; also : a synthetic substance that acts like a hormone
2 : sex hormone

— hor·mone·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective