/ ˈhɔːməʊn; NAmE ˈhɔːrmoʊn/ noun
a chemical substance produced in the body or in a plant that encourages growth or influences how the cells and tissues function; an artificial substance that has similar effects :
growth hormones
a hormone imbalance
Oestrogen is a female sex hormone.
► hor·mo·nal / hɔːˈməʊnl; NAmE hɔːrˈmoʊnl/ adjective [ usually before noun ]:
the hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy
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WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent.: from Greek hormōn , present participle of horman impel, set in motion.