[ pjʊ'bɛs(ə)ns ]
■ noun
1》 the time when puberty begins.
2》 Botany & Zoology soft down on the leaves and stems of plants or on animals, especially insects.
Derivatives
pubescent adjective &noun
Origin
ME: from Fr., or from med. L. pubescentia , from L. pubescent- , pubescere 'reach puberty'.