inhibitor

American  

[in-hib-i-ter] / ɪnˈhɪb ɪ tər /

Or inhibiter

noun

1. a person or thing that inhibits.

2. Chemistry. a substance that decreases the rate of or stops completely a chemical reaction.

3. any impurity in a mineral that prevents luminescence.

4. Rocketry. an inert antioxidant used with solid propellants to inhibit burning on certain surfaces.

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inhibitor British  

/ ɪnˈhɪbɪtə /

noun

1. Also called: inhibiter.  a person or thing that inhibits

2. Also called: anticatalyst.  a substance that retards or stops a chemical reaction Compare catalyst

3. biochem

   1. a substance that inhibits the action of an enzyme

   2. a substance that inhibits a metabolic or physiological process

      a plant growth inhibitor

4. any impurity in a solid that prevents luminescence

5. an inert substance added to some rocket fuels to inhibit ignition on certain surfaces

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Etymology

Origin of inhibitor

First recorded in 1865–70; inhibit + -or ²

Example Sentences

These inhibitors are already in clinical development as potential cancer treatments.

From Science Daily

They treated 18 month old mice with the mRNA, implanted tumors, and then gave the mice a checkpoint inhibitor drug.

From Science Daily

Using inhibitors to block the cytokines reduced this damage.

From Science Daily

A major group of immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors works by interrupting the interaction between two proteins, PD-1 and PD-L1.

From Science Daily

The inhibitor, phenylacetylene, was confirmed to have no other measurable effects on other community processes.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• avoidance