(of animals especially human beings) having arrived at the onset of puberty (the age at which sex glands become functional) but not yet fully mature
<adj.all> the budding breasts of a pubescent girl and the downy chin of pubescent boy
covered with fine soft hairs or down
<adj.all> downy milkweed seeds
Pubescent \Pu*bes"cent\, a. [L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent.] 1. Arrived at puberty.
That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. --Sir T. Browne.
2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.