a. [ From L. puber, pubes, grown up, adult. ] Of or pertaining to puberty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pubertas, fr. puber, pubes, adult: cf. F. puberté. ] 1. The earliest age at which persons are capable of begetting or bearing children, usually considered, in temperate climates, to be about fourteen years in males and twelve in females. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The period when a plant first bears flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Pubis. ] (Bot.) Very minutely downy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., the hair which appears on the body at puberty, from pubes adult. ] 1. (Anat.) (a) The hair which appears upon the lower part of the hypogastric region at the age of puberty. (b) Hence (as more commonly used), the lower part of the hypogastric region; the pubic region. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The down of plants; a downy or villous substance which grows on plants; pubescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. pubescence. ] 1. The quality or state of being pubescent, or of having arrived at puberty. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A covering of soft short hairs, or down, as one some plants and insects; also, the state of being so covered. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Pubescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent. ] 1. Arrived recently at puberty. [ 1913 Webster ]

That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants. [ 1913 Webster ]