progesterone
nounUK /pɹəˈd͡ʒɛstəɹəʊn/ · US /pɹoʊˈd͡ʒɛstəˌɹoʊn/
Etymology From pro- + Latin gestāre (“to bear, to carry”) + English -one.
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A steroid hormone, secreted by the ovaries, whose function is to prepare the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized ovum and to maintain pregnancy.
2
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A synthetic version of the compound, used in contraceptive pills and other pharmaceutical products.
- Derived terms
- anhydrohydroxyprogesterone, antiprogesterone, cyproterone, dehydroprogesterone, dihydroprogesterone, haloprogesterone, hydroxyprogesterone, hyperprogesteronemia, methylprogesterone, norprogesterone, progestational, Progesterex, progesteronic, tetrahydroprogesterone