See Also: pheromone(medicine)
Pheromone(health)
pheromone(dictionary)
pheromone(encyclopedia)
pheromone(dictionary)

rumour (oh) and pheromone (sh)


rumour (oh)



[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: rumour, from Latin rumor]
information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true
rumour about/of
::I've heard all sorts of rumours about him and his secretary.
rumour that
::There's an unsubstantiated rumour that Eddie's bankrupt.
:: Rumour has it that Jean's getting married again.
::Where did the rumour start?
a rumour spreads/goes around
::A malicious rumour went round that Philip had something to do with the murder.
the rumour mill
the people, considered as a group, who discuss something and pass rumours to each Other
::His name has come up in the rumour mill as a possible director for the project.

pheromone (sh)




Any chemical compound secreted by an organism in minute amounts to elicit a particular reaction from Other organisms of the same species.

Pheromones are widespread among insects and vertebrates (except birds) and are present in some fungi, slime molds, and algae. The chemicals may be secreted by special glands or incorporated into Other substances (e.g., urine), shed freely, or deposited in selected locations. Pheromones are used to bring creatures together (e.g., in termite, bee, and ant colonies), lead them to Food (e.g., in scent trails laid by ants), signal danger (e.g., when released by wounded fish to alert others), attract a mate and elicit sexual behaviour (numerous examples, possibly including humans), and influence sexual development (in many mammals and certain insects). Alarm pheromones often last a shorter time and Travel a shorter distance than Other types. In vertebrates, chemical stimuli often influence parent-young responses. Sex-attractant pheromones are used in certain products to lure and trap unwanted or harmful insects.