1. Definition & Meaning
- Hormones (noun, plural)
- Definition: Natural chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and mood.
- Meaning in simple words: Hormones are tiny messengers in your body that carry instructions from one part to another.
2. Pronunciation
- IPA (US): /ˈhɔr·moʊnz/
- IPA (UK): /ˈhɔː·məʊnz/
3. Grammatical Formation
- Base form (singular): hormone
- Plural form: hormones
- Countable/Uncountable: Countable when referring to specific types (e.g., “sex hormones”), uncountable when speaking generally (e.g., “hormones affect mood”).
4. Word Comparisons
| Word | Similarity | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| hormone | Both relate to the endocrine | “Hormone” is singular, “hormones” plural. |
| neurotransmitter | Both are chemical messengers | Neurotransmitters act in the nervous system; hormones travel in blood. |
| enzyme | All are biochemicals | Enzymes speed up reactions; hormones send signals. |
5. Changes in Meaning with Prepositions
- hormones in…
- “Hormones in the bloodstream trigger appetite.”
- with hormones…
- “With hormones at peak levels, many teens feel emotional.”
- under hormones…
- Not idiomatic—use “under the influence of hormones” to mean affected by hormonal changes.
- hormones for…
- “Hormones for growth may be prescribed by a doctor.”
6. Common Collocations
- secrete hormones
- balance hormones
- hormonal imbalance
- sex hormones
- stress hormones
- growth hormones
7. Idioms & Expressions
- raging hormones (informal)
- “Teenagers have raging hormones.”
- hormonal rollercoaster
- “Pregnant women often describe a hormonal rollercoaster.”
- under the influence of hormones
- “You might act impulsively under the influence of hormones.”
8. Real‑Life Examples & Sample Sentences
- Simple: “Our bodies secrete hormones to control sleep and hunger.”
- Collocation: “Doctors tested her blood levels to check for a hormonal imbalance.”
- Idiom: “He blamed his mood swings on raging hormones during puberty.”
- Prepositional: “With hormones surging, she felt more emotional than usual.”
9. Synonyms (comma‑separated)
chemical messengers, endocrine substances, regulatory agents, signaling molecules
10. Antonyms (comma‑separated)
(hard to find true opposites—these are contextual) inhibitors, blockers, antagonists
11. Related Terms
endocrine system, gland, testosterone, estrogen, adrenaline, cortisol, pituitary, thyroid, insulin
Does ‘hormones’ have any connection to sexuality?
Yes. Sex hormones (like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone) regulate sexual development, libido, and reproductive functions. Fluctuations in these hormones influence mood, desire, and physical changes during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause.