glucagon

[ gloo-kuh-gon ]

nounBiochemistry.
  1. a hormone secreted by the pancreas that acts in opposition to insulin in the regulation of blood glucose levels.

Origin of glucagon

1
1923; probably gluc- + Greek ágōn present participle of ágein to lead, drive; see -agogue

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British Dictionary definitions for glucagon

glucagon

/ (ˈɡluːkəˌɡɒn, -ɡən) /


noun
  1. a polypeptide hormone, produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, that stimulates the release of glucose into the blood: Compare insulin

Origin of glucagon

1
C20: from gluc (ose) + -agon, perhaps from Greek agein to lead

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

Scientific definitions for glucagon

glucagon

[ glōōkə-gŏn′ ]


  1. A polypeptide hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates an increase in blood glucose levels, thus opposing the action of insulin.

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