insulin

[ in-suh-lin, ins-yuh- ]

noun
  1. Biochemistry. a polypeptide hormone, produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, that regulates the metabolism of glucose and other nutrients.

  2. Pharmacology. any of several commercial preparations of this substance, each of which allows a particular rate of absorption into the system: genetically engineered or obtained from the pig or ox pancreas, and used in the treatment of diabetes to restore the normal ability of the body to utilize sugars and other carbohydrates.

Origin of insulin

1
First recorded in 1910–15; insul(a) + -in2

Words Nearby insulin

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How to use insulin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for insulin

insulin

/ (ˈɪnsjʊlɪn) /


noun
  1. a protein hormone, secreted in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, that controls the concentration of glucose in the blood. Insulin deficiency results in diabetes mellitus

Origin of insulin

1
C20: from New Latin insula islet (of the pancreas) + -in

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 insulin

insulin

[ ĭnsə-lĭn ]


  1. A hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood by stimulating cells, especially liver and muscle cells, to absorb and metabolize glucose. Insulin also stimulates the conversion of blood glucose into glycogen and fat, which are the body's chief sources of stored carbohydrates.

  2. A drug containing this hormone, obtained from the pancreas of animals or produced synthetically and used to treat diabetes.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for insulin

insulin

[ (in-suh-lin, in-syuh-lin) ]


A hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates the levels of sugar in the blood.

Notes for insulin

Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus may receive periodic or daily injections of insulin as a treatment for the disease.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.