Definition
a chemical produced by your adrenal glands that makes your heart beat faster and gives you more energy when you are frightened, excited, or angry
Origin and usage
The word adrenaline comes from the Modern Latin word ‘adrenal’, which means ‘of the kidneys’ and the chemical suffix ‘-ine’ meaning ‘like or of’. Adrenalin is also a trademark name from Jokichi Takamine, a Japanese chemist who discovered it in 1901.
Examples
Adrenaline is a noun that refers to a naturally-occurring substance in the body that helps us respond to dangerous situations or emergencies.
People who enjoy the sensation of a rush of adrenaline are sometimes called ‘adrenaline junkies’. Skydiving, BASE jumping and zapcat racing are all common sports for these individuals.
Many of these so-called extreme sports can be quite expensive, but chasing an adrenaline rush doesn’t have to break the bank.
Zip lining involves gliding along a cord strung between two points, often very high up off the ground. Most zip line courses are professionally managed, which means that you don’t have to have your own equipment; you simply pay a small fee to ride the course.
Caving takes a bit of skill and practice, but for a small annual fee you can join a caving club that will give you full access to this exciting hobby.
Parkour is a totally free extreme sport. It’s easy to set up a DIY obstacle course, or you can use existing structures at local parks or schools to challenge yourself to a run that’s sure to boost your adrenaline.
Quotations
“It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.”
(Charles Lindbergh)
View the full definition in the Macmillan Dictionary.
