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GABA

American  
[gab-uh] / ˈgæb ə /

noun

Biochemistry.
  1. a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that inhibits excitatory responses.


GABA British  
/ ˈɡæbə /

acronym

  1. gamma-aminobutyric acid: a biologically active substance found in plants and in brain and other animal tissues; it is a neurotransmitter that inhibits activation of neurones

"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

GABA Scientific  
  1. Abbreviation of gamma-aminobutyric acid


Etymology

Origin of GABA

g(amma-)a(mino)b(utyric) a(cid)

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.

See Examples For:

Normal human consciousness is tied to inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 9, 2025

They discovered that two types of neurons in the claustrum, which send output signals to different parts of the brain, respond in opposing ways to acetylcholine and GABA.

From Science Daily Sep. 21, 2023

In Japan, you can already buy tomatoes rich in a chemical called GABA, which has a calming effect, and modified sea bream where more of the flesh is suitable for sushi.

From BBC Mar. 23, 2023

Others generate a chemical called GABA, deficits of which are linked to depression.

From Washington Post Jan. 31, 2023

The researchers reasoned that if this gut microbe had to have GABA, some other microbe must be making it.

From Science Magazine May 7, 2020

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