enkephalin

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐγκέφαλος (enképhalos, brain) +‎ -in.

Noun

enkephalin (plural enkephalins)

  1. (biochemistry) Any of a group of pentapeptide endorphins that have opiate-like effects
    • 1996, David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest [], Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 67:
      Some of the more marginal players start in as early as maybe twelve, I'm sorry to say, particularly 'drines before matches and then enkephaline after []

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