Word
adrenal
US/əˈdɹinəɫ/
UK/ɐdɹˈiːnəl/
Definition
adj. relating to the small glands in your body that help you deal with stress. These glands release hormones like adrenaline when you are scared or excited.
adj. relating to the adrenal glands, which secrete hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Often used in medical or physiological contexts to describe the body's stress response.
Examples
“The doctor checked my adrenal function during the physical.”
“During the high-stress interview, her adrenal system kicked in, causing her heart to race and her palms to sweat.”
“Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, a condition where the body's ability to produce essential hormones like cortisol becomes significantly impaired over time.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor checked my adrenal function during the physical.”
contextual
“During the high-stress interview, her adrenal system kicked in, causing her heart to race and her palms to sweat.”
complex
“Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, a condition where the body's ability to produce essential hormones like cortisol becomes significantly impaired over time.”
Etymology
From ad- (“near”) + renal (“pertaining to the kidneys”), from Latin rēn (“kidney”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/adrenal