neotenic

Variant of neoteny

neoteny definition

ne·ot·eny (nē ät′'n ē)

noun

  1. the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult
  2. the development of adult features in the juvenile, as the attainment of sexual maturity in some larvae; paedogenesis

Etymology: ModL neotenia < neo-, neo- + Gr teinein, to stretch: see tend

Related Forms:

  • neotenic ne′o·te′nic (nē′ə tē′nik, -ten′ik) adjective or neotenous ne·ot·e′nous (nē ät′'n əs)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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