adrenaline
adrenaline Lexical Profile
adrenaline Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hormone and neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in response to stress, fear, or physical exertion, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolic energy for the fight-or-flight response.
"A surge of adrenaline helped the climber pull himself to safety on the rocky ledge."
A synthetic or extracted form of this hormone used medicinally as a stimulant to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and cardiac arrest.
"The paramedic administered an injection of adrenaline to reverse the patient's severe allergic reaction."
Word Nuance & Usage
In clinical and pharmacological contexts in the United States, the hormone and medication is officially termed "epinephrine," whereas "adrenaline" remains the standard medical term in British English and the preferred everyday term worldwide.
• Rhymes for adrenaline
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1901 by Japanese chemist Jokichi Takamine from Latin ad ('near') and renes ('kidneys'), referring to the adrenal glands situated atop the kidneys, combined with the chemical suffix -ine.