puberties

Noun

puberty (countable and uncountable, plural puberties)

1. A developmental phase brought about by the action of hormones as part of the maturing process. For humans, there are three in total.
   • Girls undergoing puberty show an increase in the total output of cortisol, which is related to stress, while boys show little increase.2014, Lewis Wolpert, Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?, →ISBN
   1. (common) The process of sexual development that produces secondary sex characteristics and makes a person capable of reproducing sexually.
2. The age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction.
   • As shown in Figure 14.4 of the textbook, children reach puberty at different ages in different countries; within those nations, children living in cities tend to reach puberty earlier than those living in rural areas.2009, The Development of Children Study Guide, →ISBN, page 241
3. The period when a plant begins to flower.