noun · countable / uncountable · rare

neoteny

neoteny · neotenies

неотения

Neotenie, Verjugendlichung

The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adultThe retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.

UK/niˈɒtəni/US/niˈɑːtəni/

Meaning

2 senses

(countable, uncountable)The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.
Most amphibians are aquatic only while young, but some amphibians with neoteny remain aquatic even as adults.
Neotenie, Verjugendlichung
неоте́нияneoténija
(countable, uncountable)The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage.
неоте́нияneoténija

More definitions

an evolutionary trend to be born earlier so that development is cut off at an earlier stage and juvenile characteristics are retained in adults of the species

Translations

6 languages

Русский

By meaning 1

retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult:

Origin

From German Neotenie, coined in 1884 by anatomist Julius Kollmann from Ancient Greek νέος

From German Neotenie, coined in 1884 by anatomist Julius Kollmann from Ancient Greek νέος (néos, “young”) + τείνειν (teínein, “to extend, spread or tense”).

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