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endocrine

[en-duh-krin, -krahyn, -kreen]Anatomy, Physiology
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adjective Also en·do·cri·nal [en-duh-krahyn-l, -kreen-l] /ˌɛn dəˈkraɪn l, -ˈkrin l/, en·do·crin·ic [en-duh-krin-ik] /ˈɛn dəˈkrɪn ɪk/, endocrinous.
  1. secreting internally into the blood or lymph.
  2. of or relating to an endocrine gland or its secretion.
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noun
  1. an internal secretion; hormone.
  2. endocrine gland.
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Compare exocrine.

Origin of endocrine

1910–15; endo- + -crine < Greek krī́nein to separate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for endocrine

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "I'm not so sure about that endocrine shift, sir," Tensor stated emotionlessly.

    Fair and Warmer

    E. G. von Wald

  • Another physical anomaly, which is presumably of endocrine origin, is the suppression of the menses.

    Benign Stupors

    August Hoch

  • The endocrine hypothesis, suggested by Funk in his monograph, is not without some corroborative evidence.

    Scurvy Past and Present

    Alfred Fabian Hess

  • It is simply all the endocrine or hormone-producing organs organized into a balanced chemical system—adjusted to each other.

    Taboo and Genetics

    Melvin Moses Knight, Iva Lowther Peters, and Phyllis Mary Blanchard

  • This secretory or endocrine idea has also given us an entirely new view of sex differences.

    Taboo and Genetics

    Melvin Moses Knight, Iva Lowther Peters, and Phyllis Mary Blanchard

British Dictionary definitions for endocrine

endocrine

adjective Also: endocrinal (ˌɛndəʊˈkraɪnəl), endocrinic (ˌɛndəʊˈkrɪnɪk), endocrinous (ɛnˈdɒkrɪnəs)
  1. of or denoting endocrine glands or their secretionsendocrine disorders
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noun
  1. an endocrine gland
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Compare exocrine

Word Origin

C20: from endo- + -crine, from Greek krinein to separate
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

Word Origin and History for endocrine

adj.

"secretly, internally," 1914, from endo- + Latinized form of Greek krinein "to separate, distinguish" (see crisis).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
endocrine in Medicine

endocrine

(ĕn′də-krĭn, -krēn′, -krīn′)
adj.
  1. Secreting internally, most commonly into the systemic circulation.
  2. Of or relating to endocrine glands or the hormones secreted by them.
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n.
  1. The secretion of an endocrine gland.
  2. An endocrine gland.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.