estrous cycle

noun

: the correlated phenomena of the endocrine and reproductive systems of a female mammal from the beginning of one period of estrus to the beginning of the next

called also estral cycle, estrus cycle

Examples of estrous cycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the estrous cycle has little to do with how female mice behave, according to a new study that used machine-learning software to track the second-to-second behavior of animals exploring an open space. —Azeen Ghorayshi, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023

The estrous cycle of the females showed a very weak effect on their behavior, the researchers found. —Azeen Ghorayshi, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023

Moreover, the amount of grooming changed over the course of a female’s estrous cycle, which is similar to the human menstrual cycle but lasts only four to five days. —Debra A. Bangasser, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2016

The fact is that any does not bred a month before, as well a number of fawns entering their first estrous cycle, will come into heat now, and mature bucks are not going to pass up an opportunity to breed. —Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 20 Oct. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

estrous cycle

noun

: the cycle of changes in the endocrine and reproductive systems of a female mammal from the beginning of one period of estrus to the beginning of the next

Medical Definition

estrous cycle

noun

: the correlated phenomena of the endocrine and generative systems of a female mammal from the beginning of one period of estrus to the beginning of the next

called also estral cycle, estrus cycle