English Dictionary

melatonin

IPA（発音記号）

/ˌmɛləˈtoʊnɪn/

名詞

不可算名詞 通常

A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep/wake and reproductive cycles in mammals.

日本語の意味

松果体から分泌されるホルモン。セロトニンに関連し、爬虫類では皮膚の色変化を促し、哺乳類では睡眠・覚醒および生殖周期の調整に関与する。

At dusk, the spike in melatonin not only signaled the snake to begin its sleep cycle but also induced a subtle change in its skin color.

夕暮れ時、睡眠を調節し爬虫類の体色変化に関わる松果体ホルモンの急増は、ヘビに睡眠サイクルの開始を知らせるだけでなく、皮膚の色をわずかに変えました。

意味（1）

A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep/wake and reproductive cycles in mammals.

How exactly melatonin relates to sleep is still not understood.

意味（2）

Any material similar in its chemistry and effect to the natural hormone.

melatonins （ plural ）