plant hormone

noun

: an organic substance other than a nutrient that in minute amounts modifies a plant physiological process

especially : one produced by a plant and active elsewhere than at the site of production

Examples of plant hormone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Health What plants can teach us about human suffering Plants are very sensitive to touch, with research showing that touching a plant can change its genome and launch a cascade of plant hormones. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

Coconut contains a type of anti-inflammatory plant hormone called cytokinins. —Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 12 Apr. 2024

Other sustainable, lighter shipping cartons are being designed to remove ethylene, a plant hormone that encourages ripening. Containers from plants. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that triggers produce to ripen faster. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

plant hormone

noun

: a substance other than food that in small amounts changes one of the life processes of a plant

especially : one made by the plant itself and acting somewhere other than at the site where it is produced

Medical Definition

plant hormone

noun

ˈplant- 

: an organic substance other than a nutrient that in minute amounts modifies a plant physiological process

especially : one produced by a plant and active elsewhere than at the site of production

called also phytohormone