pineal

American  

[pin-ee-uhl, pahy-nee-, pahy-nee-] / ˈpɪn i əl, ˈpaɪ ni-, paɪˈni- /

adjective

1. resembling a pine cone in shape.

2. of or relating to the pineal body.

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pineal British  

/ ˈpɪnɪəl, paɪˈniːəl /

adjective

1. resembling a pine cone

2. of or relating to the pineal gland

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Other Word Forms

• prepineal adjective

Etymology

Origin of pineal

1675–85; < New Latin pīneālis, equivalent to Latin pīne ( a ) pine cone, noun use of feminine of pīneus of a pine tree ( pīn ( us ) pine ¹ + -eus -eous ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle.

From Science Daily

She then joined a pineal cyst support group, mainly consisting of young women, who believe such cysts are to blame for debilitating symptoms.

From BBC

It had a prominent pineal foramen -- a hole in the top of its head that many lizard species use to sense sunlight and judge the length of daylight hours.

From Science Daily

Melatonin is produced naturally in the pineal gland to signal the body that it is time to sleep and regulate its circadian rhythm -- the physiological cycle over a 24-hour period.

From Science Daily

This neurochemical comes from the pineal gland, a petite structure located in the center of the brain that philosopher René Descartes once described as the “seat of the soul” and rational thought.

From Scientific American