Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry Any of a group of peptide hormones found in the brain that act as neurotransmitters and have properties similar to morphine.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a neurochemical occurring naturally in the brain and having analgesic properties

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[endo(genous) + (mo)rphin(e).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French endorphine, from endo(gène) ‘endogenous’ + (mo)rphine ‘morphine’.

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Examples

  • Therefore, although it was unknown to us at the time, the term endorphin was no longer useful as a generic term as I had proposed.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • Therefore, although it was unknown to us at the time, the term endorphin was no longer useful as a generic term as I had proposed.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • Avram liked it, and immediately wrote a circular letter to all of the officers and to some of the more distinguished members of the International Narcotic Research Club who were present at the meeting, asking them if they would accept the name endorphin.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • Avram liked it, and immediately wrote a circular letter to all of the officers and to some of the more distinguished members of the International Narcotic Research Club who were present at the meeting, asking them if they would accept the name endorphin.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • I’m delighted that the term endorphin is in the Index Medicus, and that one of my names stuck.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • I’m delighted that the term endorphin is in the Index Medicus, and that one of my names stuck.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • She also says that when a person has a good laugh, a hormone called endorphin is released that causes relaxation and an overall good healthy feeling.

    CITIZEN-TIMES.com - News 2010

  • She also says that when a person has a good laugh, a hormone called endorphin is released that causes relaxation and an overall good healthy feeling.

    CITIZEN-TIMES.com - News 2010

  • The activating enzymes in endorphin synthesis are members of a class called endorphin convertase.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

  • The activating enzymes in endorphin synthesis are members of a class called endorphin convertase.

    Alcohol and The Addictive Brain Kenneth Blum 1991

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