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Glite Dictionary

thelarche

1 9.9
The start of breast growth in girls when puberty begins
  • noun
  • /θəˈlɑrki/
  • Specialized
: telarquia
  • The onset of thelarche can vary among girls.

Examples

  • During thelarche, girls may experience tenderness as their breasts begin to develop.

  • Early thelarche can be an indicator of precocious puberty in some girls.

  • The doctor explained that thelarche typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 13.

  • When does thelarche typically occur?

  • The doctor explained that the thelarche is a normal part of puberty when girls start developing breasts.

  • At the age of 10, Sarah experienced thelarche, which marked the beginning of her physical changes into womanhood.

  • Many parents are surprised when they learn about thelarche, the first sign of breast development during their daughter's growth.

Surface Forms

thelarche singular
thelarches plural

Morphology

thelarche = breast (opaque) = thel + arche

Built from specialized medical combining forms rather than productive English morphemes, so learners unfamiliar with medical terminology will not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Thelarche comes from the Greek parts thele, meaning 'nipple' or 'breast', and arche, meaning 'beginning'. So, thelarche is the start of breast growth in girls and one of the first signs of puberty.