adrenaline

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress, also known as epinephrine

   The patient had dangerously high levels of adrenaline in the blood.

2. 2
   noun

   Excitement; thrills.

   Some people bungee jump to feel alive through the surge of adrenaline.

3. 3
   noun

   Epinephrine, the hormone and neurotransmitter.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad-bor. English ad- Late Latin rēn Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Late Latin -ālis Late Latin rēnālislbor. English renal English adrenal Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ine English adrenaline From adrenal + -ine, coined by Japanese chemist Takamine Jōkichi in 1901.