estrous

adjective

es·​trous ˈe-strəs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of estrus

2

: being in heat

Examples of estrous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That male was part of a group of four males who were harassing an estrous female, when out of nowhere, her three coalition partners came swooping in to her aid. — David P. Barash, WSJ, 17 May 2022

Every fall, a handful of does come into estrous about a month before the main event, and the chaos these early-cycling deer create is pretty significant. — Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 6 Sep. 2023

By contrast, participants using contraceptive pills showed no estrous earnings peak. — Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing estrous

• estrous cycle

Rhymes for estrous

• estrus
• prestress

Medical Definition

estrous

adjective

es·​trous ˈes-trəs 

variants or chiefly British oestrous

ˈē-strəs 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of estrus

2

: being in heat