pubescent

From Middle French pubescent, from Latin pubescens (“to become hairy, downy, or an adult”)

pubescent (comparative more pubescent, superlative most pubescent)

1. At or just after the age of puberty.
   • 2008, Lou Schuler, "Foreward", in Nate Green, Built for Show, page xi

     […] the pubescent male brain isn't noted for its consistent engagement with reality […]

   • 2012 June 26, Genevieve Koski, “Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     The 18-year-old Bieber can’t quite pull off the “adult” thing just yet: His voice may have dropped a bit since the days of “Baby,” but it still mostly registers as “angelic,” and veers toward a pubescent whine at times.

2. (botany, zoology) Covered with down or fine hairs.

• mid-pubescent
• peripubescent
• postpubescent
• prepubescent

• puberty, pubescence

pubescent (plural pubescents)

1. An individual who is going through puberty.

• postpubescent
• See Thesaurus:preteen

• puberulent

pūbēscent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of pūbēscō