noun
- Plural of oestrus; recurring periods of sexual receptivity and fertility in female mammals.
Usage: chiefly British spelling (American: estrus, estruses); biology, veterinary medicine
Examples
- The veterinarian explained that dogs experience multiple oestruses throughout the year.
- During oestruses, female mammals display behavioral and physiological changes.
- Farmers monitor the oestruses of their livestock to plan breeding schedules.
- The hormone cycle regulates oestruses in most mammalian species.
- Oestruses are characterized by increased pheromone production in many animals.