glutamate

noun

glu·ta·mate | \ˈglü-tə-ˌmāt

Definition of glutamate

: a salt or ester of glutamic acid specifically : a salt or ester of levorotatory glutamic acid that functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter — compare monosodium glutamate

Examples of glutamate in a Sentence

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Scientists believe that the savory taste sensation results when some of our taste receptors respond to foods that contain the amino acid glutamate. — Chris Ross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Blender gazpacho has umami flavors," 9 July 2018 Hair of the Dog can work because alcohol suppresses a brain chemical called glutamate. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Fourth of July: Hangover cures for your patriotic beverage binge," 4 July 2018 Our bodies ultimately metabolize both sources of glutamate in the same way. — Yvette D'entremont, SELF, "We All Really Need to Stop Freaking Out About MSG," 20 June 2018 These observations suggested that maybe serotonin didn't matter in depression so much as glutamate. — Moises Velasquez-manoff, WIRED, "Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug," 8 May 2018 The antibiotic, scientists would later discover, blocked glutamate receptors. — Moises Velasquez-manoff, WIRED, "Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug," 8 May 2018 Skolnick's research again implicated the glutamate system. — Moises Velasquez-manoff, WIRED, "Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug," 8 May 2018 Ketamine does not directly influence the same chemical messengers as standard antidepressants such as serotonin but rather works via interaction with another chemical, glutamate—not usually associated with mood but rather with brain plasticity. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "Getting the Inside Dope on Ketamine’s Mysterious Ability to Rapidly Relieve Depression," 2 Mar. 2018 Using optogenetics, Creed was able to harness the neurotransmitter glutamate to reverse the brain changes that happen in addiction. — Carrie Wells, baltimoresun.com, "After reversing cocaine addiction in mice, University of Maryland researcher turns to opioids," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glutamate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of glutamate was in 1876

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glutamate

noun

glu·ta·mate | \ˈglüt-ə-ˌmāt

Medical Definition of glutamate

: a salt or ester of glutamic acid specifically : a salt or ester of levorotatory glutamic acid that functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter — see monosodium glutamate