NEOTENY


Meaning of NEOTENY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ nē-ˈä-tə-nē ]

noun

Etymology: New Latin neotenia, from ne- + Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

Date: 1901

1. : retention of some larval or immature characters in adulthood

2. : attainment of sexual maturity during the larval stage

• ne·o·ten·ic ˌnē-ə-ˈte-nik adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.