noun
pheromone
noun
1
A chemical released by an animal that triggers a behavioral or physiological response in others of the same species.
"Ants use pheromones to mark trails to food."
"Some moths can detect a mate's pheromones from miles away."
How to Use Pheromone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scent-based chemical signal animals (and sometimes humans) give off that affects the behavior of others of their species.
Common pairings
release pheromones
sex pheromone
pheromone trail
Word Forms
pheromones plural
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Ants use _____ to mark trails to food.
Etymology
Coined by combining the Greek pherein ("to carry") with "hormone," describing a chemical signal carried between individuals rather than within one body.