Home US English neotene

Definition of neotene in English:

neotene

Pronunciation /ˈnɪə(ʊ)tiːn/

noun

Biology

  • An individual or species that exhibits neoteny.

adjective

rare Biology

  • Neotenic.

Origin

1950s; earliest use found in American Midland Naturalist. Apparently from neoten-, perhaps irregularly after formations in -tene.