cholinergic
Americanadjective
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resembling acetylcholine in pharmacological action.
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stimulated by or releasing acetylcholine or a related compound.
adjective
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denoting nerve fibres that release acetylcholine when stimulated
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of or relating to the type of chemical activity associated with acetylcholine and similar substances
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Relating to a neuron or axon that is activated by or is capable of releasing acetylcholine when a nerve impulse passes. The nerve endings of the parasympathetic nervous system are cholinergic.
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Having physiological effects similar to those of acetylcholine, as certain drugs.
Etymology
Origin of cholinergic
First recorded in 1930–35; (acetyl)choline + -ergic
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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.
"But it's an important piece of the puzzle, as the activity of the striatum, where these cholinergic interneurons are held, is a central component of this system," emphasizes Prof. Wickens.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026
Both groups trained on tablets for 30 minutes a day over 10 weeks, but only the BrainHQ users showed measurable increases in cholinergic activity.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2025
Thorne was diagnosed autistic as an adult and lived with an intense skin condition called cholinergic urticaria in his 20s, meaning he was allergic to heat and his own body movements.
From BBC ● May 27, 2025
Last year, a study published in the Lancet journal eBioMedicine offered compelling evidence that a cholinergic enzyme in living infants could be a biomarker, and indicate a newborn's risk of SIDS.
From Salon ● May 25, 2023
The cholinergic system includes two classes of receptor: the nicotinic receptor and the muscarinic receptor.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
