melatonin
noun
mel·a·to·nin
| \ ˌme-lə-ˈtō-nən
\
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Definition of melatonin
: a vertebrate hormone that is derived from serotonin, is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness, and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms
Examples of melatonin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the dark, our body temperature drops, metabolism slows, and the hormone melatonin rises to help induce sleep. — Lauren Lee, CNN, "These interior design tips can help you create a bedroom blueprint for better sleep," 6 Aug. 2019 In humans, blue light triggers a cascade of health effects—including disrupting sleep—by interrupting normal cycling of the hormone melatonin. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "These fish eggs aren't hatching. The culprit? Light pollution.," 9 July 2019 Tart cherry juice mixed with chia seeds Tart cherry juice, a natural source of melatonin, has been shown in several studies to improve sleep. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "7 Healthy Late-Night Snacks," 3 July 2019 Along with a regimen of melatonin and an essential dose of cannabis indica (Granddaddy Purple and Blackberry Kush helps the sleep train pull into the station more quickly). — Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, "The best music to help you fall asleep," 26 July 2019 The addition of a few tablespoons of chia seeds provides not only fiber and plant protein but tryptophan, a precursor to melatonin. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "7 Healthy Late-Night Snacks," 3 July 2019 According to Walker, our bodies require a drop in temperature—which affects our melatonin levels—to fall asleep quicker. — Mayo Oshin, Quartzy, "Five scientifically proven ways to fall asleep faster," 19 June 2019 Despite being just 1-2% of the strength of daylight, this ambient level of incandescent home lighting can have 50% of the melatonin-suppressing influence within the brain. — Mayo Oshin, Quartzy, "Five scientifically proven ways to fall asleep faster," 19 June 2019 Sunlight availability can cause fluctuations in melatonin and serotonin levels, and our brain chemicals can deeply impact a variety of mental health disorders. — Shelby Deering, Good Housekeeping, "Summer Depression Is a Thing — Here’s What You Need to Know," 7 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melatonin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for melatonin
melatonin
noun
mel·a·to·nin
| \ ˌmel-ə-ˈtō-nən
\
\
Medical Definition of melatonin
: a vertebrate hormone C13H16N2O2 that is derived from serotonin, is secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness, and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms