Somatotropin
/ˌsoʊməˈtoʊtrəpɪn/noun
A hormone that stimulates growth, especially the secretion of growth hormone in the body.
Did you know?Somatotropin is built from Greek roots meaning “body” and “turning,” because the hormone was named for its power to turn the body toward growth rather than for any mystical property.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sōma
“body”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tropē
“a turning, a turn, change of direction”
19th Century
English
somat- + trop- + -in
“a scientific compound built from Greek roots to name a growth-related substance”
20th Century
English
somatotropin
“a hormone associated with stimulating growth in the body”
Modern English
English
somatotropin
“growth hormone or a growth-stimulating hormone”