noun

adrenaline

uh-DREN-uh-lin/əˈdrenəlɪn/

A hormone that prepares the body for urgent action.

The startled woman's body releases adrenaline when she encounters the obstacle.

A startled adult woman encounters a fallen branch on a woodland path; small clean body inset highlights adrenal glands above kidneys and faster heartbeat, conveying stress hormone response.

Etymology

adLatinto, near

+renalLatinof the kidneys

+ineFrenchchemical substance

The “near the kidneys” pieces identify the adrenal glands, while the chemical ending marks a substance associated with them. The hormone’s name thus points to its glandular source.

In context

University of Nottingham7:50

and they produce a hormone called adrenaline, have you heard of that? - Yes, I have heard of that. - Ok. And what adrenaline does is it prepares us for situations of fight or flight

Psychiatric Interviews for Teaching: Anxiety

More examples

Researchers measure adrenaline levels during the experiment.
The final seconds of the race fill him with adrenaline.
She loves the rush of adrenaline before a live performance.

Similar words

epinephrine: The alternate medical name for the same hormone.
thrill: Names excitement directly rather than referring to a hormone.