Definition of hormone Hormone

/hɔˈɹmowˌn/ - [hormown] - hor•mone

We found 7 definitions of hormone from 5 different sources.

What does hormone mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: hormones
hormone - the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect
		endocrine, internal secretion
		secretion a functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or cell
		acth, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, adrenocorticotrophin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropin, corticotrophin, corticotropin a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex
		adrenalin, adrenaline, epinephrin, epinephrine a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve action
		gastrointestinal hormone, gi hormones hormones that affect gastrointestinal functioning
		glucagon a hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates increases in blood sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin)
		gonadotrophic hormone, gonadotrophin, gonadotropic hormone, gonadotropin hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and placenta; stimulates the gonads and controls reproductive activity
		insulin hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas; regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cells
		melatonin hormone secreted by the pineal gland
		neurohormone a hormone that is released by nerve impulses (e.g., norepinephrine or vasopressin)
		oxytocin, pitocin hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milk
		parathormone, parathyroid hormone hormone synthesized and released into the blood stream by the parathyroid glands; regulates phosphorus and calcium in the body and functions in neuromuscular excitation and blood clotting
		relaxin hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during the last days of pregnancy; relaxes the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for labor
		hypothalamic releasing factor, hypothalamic releasing hormone, releasing factor, releasing hormone, rh a substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland
		growth hormone, human growth hormone, somatotrophic hormone, somatotrophin, somatotropic hormone, somatotropin, sth a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humans
		thymosin hormone secreted by the thymus; stimulates immunological activity of lymphoid tissue
		thyroid hormone any of several closely related compounds that are produced by the thyroid gland and are active metabolically
		adh, antidiuretic hormone, pitressin, vasopressin hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus; affects blood pressure by stimulating capillary muscles and reduces urine flow by affecting reabsorption of water by kidney tubules
		sex hormone, steroid hormone, steroid any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs
		adrenosterone a steroid having androgenic activity; obtained from the cortex of the adrenal gland
		glucocorticoid a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex of animals; affects functioning of gonads and has anti-inflammatory activity
		catecholamine any of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal gland
		melanocyte-stimulating hormone, msh a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that controls the degree of pigmentation in melanocytes
		thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotrophic hormone, thyrotrophin, thyrotropic hormone, thyrotropin, tsh anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the function of the thyroid gland

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Wiktionary

hormone (Noun)
Any substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity.
hormone (Noun)
A synthetic compound with the same activity.
hormone (Noun)
Any similar substance in plants.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

hormone
Any substance, produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity.

Wikipedia

Hormones are biological chemicals that are found in plants and animals. Hormones are produced by living cells.They are used to send messages to other cells. These messages can be sent to nearby cells or to far-away cells. If a cell wants to send a message to a nearby cell, it puts the hormone into the tissue around it. If an animal's cell wants to send a message to a far-away cell, it puts the hormone into the blood. When a hormone is put in the blood it goes to all parts of the animal's body. Sometimes the cell that gets the message can even be the same cell that made the hormone (and sent the message.)

The cell or tissue that gets the message is called the "target cell".

Many different kinds of cells can send a message. There are some kinds of cells whose main job is to make hormones. When many of these cells are together in one place, it is called a "gland". Glands are groups of cells that make something and release it (put it outside the cell). Some glands make hormones.

Endocrine means something that is made by cells and released "into" the blood or tissue. So "endocrine glands" form hormones and release them into the blood or tissue. The opposite word is exocrine and means released "outside" of the body. An example of "exocrine" is sweat glands or saliva glands. When people say endocrine they usually mean "glands that make hormones".

Actions.

Hormones do many things. They regulate metabolism. Metabolism is all of the chemical and energy reactions that happen in a living