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es·tro·gen also oes·tro·gen

(ĕstrə-jən)

1. Any of several steroid hormones, such as estradiol and estrone, that are produced primarily by the ovaries, stimulate the development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics, exert systemic effects such as the growth and maturation of long bones, and promote estrus in many female mammals. Estrogens synthesized from plant sources or obtained from horses are used as drugs, primarily to treat estrogen deficiency.

2. Any of several synthetic compounds that mimic the physiologic activity of estrogen, such as ethinyl estradiol, used primarily in oral contraceptives.

[ESTR(US) + -GEN.]

es′tro·genic (-jĕnĭk) adj.

es′tro·geni·cal·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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