pubescent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite (of animals especially human beings) having arrived at the onset of puberty (the age at which sex glands become functional) but not yet fully mature
    • the budding breasts of a pubescent girl and the downy chin of pubescent boy
  2. adjective satellite covered with fine soft hairs or down
    downy; puberulent; sericeous.
    • downy milkweed seeds

WordNet

Pu*bes"cent adjective
Etymology
L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent.
Definitions
  1. Arrived at puberty.
    That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. Sir T. Browne.
  2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.

Webster 1913