inhibitor

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noun in·hib·i·tor \in-ˈhi-bə-tər\

Definition of inhibitor

: one that inhibits: such asa : an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical actionb : a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (such as an enzyme)

Recent Examples of inhibitor from the Web

But the scientists found that endosomal NK1 can be turned off by inhibitors attached to lipids called cholestanols that cross the cell membrane to reach the endosomes.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Blocking chronic pain that's currently out of drugs' reach", 31 May 2017
While an earlier study had shown a similar immunotherapy drug to be effective for a significant proportion of patients with advanced melanoma or lung or kidney cancer, checkpoint inhibitors weren't making headway with colon cancer.

— laurie mcginley, chicagotribune.com, "Immunotherapy offers hope to certain cancer patients not responding to chemo", 30 May 2017
While an earlier study had shown a similar immunotherapy drug was effective for a significant proportion of patients with advanced melanoma, lung and kidney cancer, checkpoint inhibitors weren’t making headway with colon cancer.

— laurie mcginley, Washington Post, "‘This is not the end’: Experimental therapy that targets genes gives cancer patients hope", 28 May 2017
Thalidomide is part of a class of promising cancer fighters called angiogenesis inhibitors, which disrupt growth of blood vessels by attacking the cells that form their walls.

— reuters, WIRED, "Thalidomide, Take Two", 29 Nov. 1999

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

Circa 1611

First Known Use of inhibitor

circa 1611

Medical Dictionary

inhibitor

play

noun in·hib·i·tor \in-ˈhib-ət-ər\

Medical Definition of inhibitor

: one that inhibits: asa: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical reactionb: a substance that reduces the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)c: a gene that checks the normal effect of another nonallelic gene when both are present