testosterone
nounUK /tɛˈstɒ.stə.ɹəʊn/ · US /tɛˈstɑ.stəˌɹoʊn/
Etymology From test(is) + -o- + -sterone (“steroid hormone”).
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex.
- Mammalian testes contain almost no testosterone because it is sent out into the body as quickly as it is made.2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Black Swan (2020), page 168:
- The text recounts a 2011 experiment: Researchers tested 136 healthy young men’s testosterone levels, asked them about their political party affiliations, then gave them either a placebo or ten grams of AndroGel one percent, a high-end dose of a common form of testosterone often used in hormone replacement therapies.2023 April 5, Mark Hay, “Does Testosterone Affect Your Politics?”, in VICE:
2
Figuratively Manly behavior, often of an aggressive or foolishly reckless nature.
- Mother encouraged James to rely more on intelligence and less on testosterone to deal with the neighbor's son.
- The MPS is a male orientated and misogynistic environment filled with testosterone, notches on bed posts and conquests.2023, Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock, “9.2.5”, in Baroness Casey Review Final Report: An independent review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service, page 268:
- Derived terms
- cloxotestosterone, dehydrotestosterone, dihydroxytestosterone, epitestosterone, hydroxytestosterone, ketotestosterone, methyltestosterone, nortestosterone, testosteronal, testosteroned, testosteronemia, testosterone undecanoate, testosteroney, testosteronic, testosterony