[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/neoteny/)

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# neoteny

noun (neoteny — uncountable)

«neoteny» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(science) Keeping young or baby-like features after growing up, in animals or people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#m1)

### In the lessons

A biology word: the axolotl, a Mexican salamander, keeps its feathery gills and stays in water all its life, a famous case of neoteny. Scientists say dogs show neoteny compared with wolves (floppy ears, playfulness), and humans have flat faces and big heads, like young apes.

### Examples

- The axolotl is a famous example of neoteny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x1)
- Neoteny means an animal keeps baby features as an adult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x2)
- Some scientists think puppy-like dogs show neoteny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x3)
- Our science teacher explained neoteny using salamanders. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x4)
- Humans show some neoteny compared with chimpanzees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x5)
- Because of neoteny, the axolotl keeps its gills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x6)
- Neoteny can make adult animals look cute. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable, a specialist science word. Pronounced "nee-OT-uh-nee". From Greek "neo" (new, young). Adjective: "neotenous".

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «neoteny» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neoteny/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«neoteny» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/neoteny.html) on Mova free.