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Adrian

American  
[ey-dree-uhn] / ˈeɪ dri ən /

noun

  1. Edgar Douglas, 1889–1977, English physiologist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1932.

  2. (Gilbert), 1903–59, U.S. fashion and costume designer.

  3. Hadrian.

  4. a city in southeastern Michigan.

  5. a first name: from a Latin word meaning “from Hadria,” an ancient city in northern Italy.


Adrian British  
/ ˈeɪdrɪən /

noun

  1. Edgar Douglas, Baron Adrian. 1889–1977, English physiologist, noted particularly for his research into the function of neurons: shared with Sherrington the Nobel prize for physiology and medicine 1932

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tobias Adrian of the International Monetary Fund cited high leverage by AI borrowers and investors as a financial stability concern.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

Deutsche Bank strategist Adrian Cox identifies a whole host of companies in the space are also awaiting their opportunity to go public, like Databricks, Glean and Vanta.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

And in Maryland, which also held primaries yesterday, a state delegate named Adrian Boafo who got support from pro-Israel and pro-cryptocurrency super PACs claimed the Democratic nomination for a safe blue congressional seat.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026

In writer-director Adrian Chiarella’s “Leviticus,” gay teens in small-town Australia are stalked by a shape-shifting monster that takes the form of whomever they most desire.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

My face was hidden by the mask in the photo, but Adrian wasn’t the only CHS student in the store, and they recognized me immediately.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

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