oxytocin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A hormone that stimulates contractions during labor, and then the production of milk; also plays a role in social bonding.

Pronunciation

/ɑksiˈtoʊsɪn/ /ˈɑksiˌtoʊsɪn/ En-us-oxytocin.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-oxytocin.wav

Word forms

oxytocin oxytocins

Etymology

From oxytocic, from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús, “swift”) + τόκος (tókos, “childbirth”, from τίκτω (tíktō, “I give birth”)).

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