Showing results for norepinephrine. Search instead for norepinephrines.

norepinephrine

American

[nawr-ep-uh-nef-rin, -reen] / ˌnɔr ɛp əˈnɛf rɪn, -rin /

noun

Also called noradrenaline. Physiology. a neurotransmitter, released by adrenergic nerve terminals in the autonomic and possibly the central nervous system, that has such effects as constricting blood vessels, raising blood pressure, and dilating bronchi.
Pharmacology. a commercial form of this substance used for emergency treatment of lowered blood pressure.

norepinephrine British

/ ˌnɔːrɛpɪˈnɛfrɪn, -riːn /

noun

the US name for noradrenaline

"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

norepinephrine Scientific

/ nôr′ĕp-ə-nĕf′rĭn /

A substance that acts both as a neurotransmitter and hormone, secreted in the central nervous system, at the nerve endings of the sympathetic nervous system, and by the adrenal gland. Norepinephrine is similar to epinephrine in its physiological effects but acts to regulate regular physiologic activity rather than being released in response to stress. Also called noradrenaline. Chemical formula: C ₈ H ₁₁ NO ₃ .

Etymology

Origin of norepinephrine

First recorded in 1940–45; nor- + epinephrine

Compare meaning

How does norepinephrine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

epinephrine vs. norepinephrine

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:

norepinephrine

The researchers also identified intriguing similarities between the norepinephrine system and the brain's dopamine signaling system.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Scientists suspect that dopamine and norepinephrine work together to support learning, potentially allowing the brain to acquire several complex and abstract concepts at the same time.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

These benefits include reducing blood pressure and vascular stiffness, improving the activation of neurons in the brain, reducing inflammation in the brain, lowering resting norepinephrine, and improving sleep.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

For example, norepinephrine, a chemical involved in the body's "fight-or-flight" response, is often higher than normal in anxiety disorders.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2025

He began to explore the role of pharmacology in treating depression, and in 1965 published a seminal paper positing that depression arose due to low levels of certain neurochemicals, highlighting the role of one, norepinephrine.

From Salon ● May 23, 2025

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023