enkephalin

enkephalin

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγκέφαλος (enképhalos, “brain”) +‎ -in.

Noun

enkephalin (plural enkephalins)

1. (biochemistry) Any of a group of pentapeptide endorphins that have opiate-like effects
   • 1996, David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest, Abacus 2013, p. 67:

     Some of the more marginal players start in as early as maybe twelve, I'm sorry to say, particularly 'drines before matches and then enkephaline after […]

Derived terms

• met-enkephalin

Translations

Translations

French: enképhaline (fr) Italian: encefalina (it) f