Definition of Neoteny

Noun: neoteny  nee'ó-t(u-)nee

1. 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
    
2. The state resulting when juvenile characteristics are retained by the adults of a species

See also:
neotenous
neoteric

Anagrams containing the word neoteny

noetney yneoten nyneote enyneot tenyneo otenyne eotenyn