Definition of melatonin in English:
melatonin
noun ˌmɛləˈtəʊnɪnˌmɛləˈtoʊnən
mass nounBiochemistry A hormone secreted by the pineal gland which inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.
Example sentencesExamples
- Cherries are also a great source of melatonin, a hormone that your body uses to regulate its sleep patterns.
- Delaying sleep on weekends delays the nightly secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- The pineal gland hormone, melatonin, is one of the endproducts regulated by the circadian system.
- Bright light in the morning affects your levels of the hormone melatonin.
- Research has found the pineal hormone melatonin is low in migraine patients.
Origin
1950s: from Greek melas 'black' + serotonin.
Definition of melatonin in US English:
melatonin
nounˌmeləˈtōnənˌmɛləˈtoʊnən
Biochemistry A hormone secreted by the pineal gland which inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.
Example sentencesExamples
- Delaying sleep on weekends delays the nightly secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- Cherries are also a great source of melatonin, a hormone that your body uses to regulate its sleep patterns.
- Bright light in the morning affects your levels of the hormone melatonin.
- The pineal gland hormone, melatonin, is one of the endproducts regulated by the circadian system.
- Research has found the pineal hormone melatonin is low in migraine patients.
Origin
1950s: from Greek melas ‘black’ + serotonin.