Puberty (noun)

1. The stage of life when a child's body begins to develop and change into that of an adult, typically between the ages of 11 and 14 for girls and 13 and 16 for boys.
2. The physiological changes that occur in the body during this period, including the development of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breasts in girls and facial hair in boys.

Origin:

From old french puberté, from latin pubertas, from puber ("adult, mature").

Examples:

1. The onset of puberty can be a difficult and confusing time for many adolescents.
2. He was late to go through puberty and was still small and skinny at age 17.
3. During puberty, the body begins to produce more hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
4. The onset of puberty marks the beginning of a child's journey into adulthood.
5. Puberty is a time of rapid physical and emotional growth and development.