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plant hormone
noun
: an organic substance other than a nutrient that in minute amounts modifies a plant physiological process
especially
: one produced by a plant and active elsewhere than at the site of production
Examples of plant hormone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that triggers produce to ripen faster.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
Rooting hormone contains plant hormones called auxins that help the plant root faster.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 22 June 2023
The cause for the strange blooms is plant hormones that are out of balance.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2023
Spuds and apples can give off high levels of ethylene gas (a natural plant hormone), triggering spouting.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2023
Powdered Kelp Meal: Another all-natural powerhouse, this powder increases natural plant growth hormones such as auxins, cytokines, and gibberellins (aka: powerful plant hormones).
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
Auxin is a plant hormone that is involved in regulating plant growth and the plant synthesizes it as needed.
—oregonlive, 18 Mar. 2023
The compound – considered non-toxic by the EPA – is typically pumped into sealed storage rooms to inhibit the production of ethylene, a plant hormone.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Dec. 2022
By studying patterns of the plant hormone auxin, researchers have discovered that auxin concentrations cause asymmetry at the molecular and anatomical levels, altering gene expression and leaf shape.
—Discover Magazine, 2 May 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plant hormone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1932, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near plant hormone
Cite this Entry
“Plant hormone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plant%20hormone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
plant hormone
noun
: a substance other than food that in small amounts changes one of the life processes of a plant
especially
: one made by the plant itself and acting somewhere other than at the site where it is produced
Medical Definition
plant hormone
noun
: an organic substance other than a nutrient that in minute amounts modifies a plant physiological process
especially
: one produced by a plant and active elsewhere than at the site of production
called also phytohormone
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