puberty

Meaning

Noun

• A developmental phase brought about by the action of hormones as part of the maturing process. For humans, there are three in total.
• The age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction.
• The period when a plant begins to flower.

Origin

• From Middle English pūbertē, from Old French puberté, from Latin pubertas ("the age of maturity, manhood"), from pubes, puber.