Associations to the word «Neoteny»

Wiktionary

NEOTENY, noun. (biology) The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.
NEOTENY, noun. (biology) The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage.

Dictionary definition

NEOTENY, noun. 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.

Wise words

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
Mark Twain