adrenergic

American  

[ad-ruh-nur-jik] / ˌæd rəˈnɜr dʒɪk /

adjective

1. of or like epinephrine in effect.

2. releasing epinephrine.

3. activated by epinephrine or any of various substances having epinephrinelike activity.

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noun

1. a drug or other agent having an epinephrinelike effect.

adrenergic British  

/ ˌædrəˈnɜːdʒɪk /

adjective

1. releasing or activated by adrenaline or an adrenaline-like substance

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adrenergic Scientific  

/ ăd′rə-nûr′jĭk /

1. Relating to a neuron or axon that is activated by or capable of releasing epinephrine or an epinephrine-like substance when a nerve impulse passes. The nerve endings of the sympathetic nervous system are adrenergic.

2. Having physiological effects similar to those of epinephrine, as certain drugs.

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Etymology

Origin of adrenergic

First recorded in 1930–35; adren- + -ergic

Example Sentences

Propranolol is a medication that blocks the adrenergic pathway -- a network of neural and hormonal signals that release neurotransmitters like adrenaline and noradrenaline -- and was used to study this pathway's role in NK cell activity.

From Science Daily

When macrophages are activated by the adrenergic signals of the autonomic nervous system, they in turn communicate with fibroblasts.

From Science Daily

I struggled for 10 minutes with a 10-letter puzzle only to give up and be told the word was... adrenergic.

From The Verge

The authors’ findings are of particular interest because these insights might offer a way to combat the tumour-driven formation of adrenergic neurons and to counteract their tumour-promoting effects.

From Nature

Another mystery is which types of adrenergic receptor are crucial for the effects of catecholamines on cytokine levels in humans.

From Nature