Definitions

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

  • noun A hormone that is secreted by cells in the stomach and promotes hunger before an expected meal, decreases in amount after eating, and promotes secretion of growth hormone.

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

  • noun biochemistry A peptide hormone, secreted in the stomach, that increases appetite.

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

  • noun a gastrointestinal hormone produced by epithelial cells lining the fundus of the stomach; appears to be a stimulant for appetite and feeding, but is also a strong stimulant of growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary

Etymologies

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

[Coined by its discoverers from ghrē-, reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root of English grow; see grow + –in (probably influenced by g(rowth)-h(ormone)-rel(easing peptide), a description of ghrelin's function and chemical composition).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From acronym GHR ("growth hormone-releasing peptide") + -lin, a common hormone suffix. Incidental pun on Proto-Indo-European *ghre- (“to grow”).

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ghrelin.

Examples

  • "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas.

    unknown title 2009

  • "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas.

    unknown title 2009

  • "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas.

    unknown title 2009

  • "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas.

    unknown title 2009

  • "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas.

    unknown title 2009

  • When our bodies notice we need more calories, levels of a hormone called ghrelin increase.

    I’m so hungry I could kiss you | clusterflock 2008

  • What I found out after the surgery and in looking into -- doing all the research I had to do to write up all the stuff you have to write up before the surgery, I heard about a hormone called ghrelin or ghrelin -- depends on which doctor you talk to, how it ` s pronounced -- that basically signals your brain and says, I need more food.

    CNN Transcript Jan 12, 2007 2007

  • The body responds by releasing a hormone called ghrelin, which causes hunger and provokes us to eat even more.

    Clipmarks | Live Clips 2010

  • The body responds by releasing a hormone called ghrelin, which causes hunger and provokes us to eat even more.

    Clipmarks | Live Clips 2010

  • The body responds by releasing a hormone called ghrelin, which causes hunger and provokes us to eat even more.

    Original Signal - Transmitting Buzz 2010

  • These include hormones, such as insulin, which increases appetite and promotes fat storage; ghrelin, the “hunger hormone”; and leptin and peptide YY, which are called “satiety hormones.”

    This Doctor Pioneered Counting Calories a Century Ago, and We’re Still Dealing With the Consequences Smithsonian Magazine 2024

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.