tryptophan

noun

tryp·to·phan | \ ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan

How to pronounce tryptophan (audio)

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variants: or less commonly tryptophane \ ˈtrip-tə-ˌfān

How to pronounce tryptophan (audio)

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Definition of tryptophan

: a crystalline essential amino acid C₁₁H₁₂N₂O₂ that is widely distributed in proteins

Examples of tryptophan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Carbohydrates in berries can help to amplify serotonin production in the brain, while yogurt is a source of sleep-promoting tryptophan. — Lisa Drayer, CNN, "9 food ideas to help you sleep well," 16 Mar. 2021 Unless both players simultaneously overdose on tryptophan, the Clippers are not an optimal opponent for a Spurs team still looking to pad its freefall. — Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio Spurs’ freefall continues in loss to Minnesota Timberwolves, and might not be finished," 28 Nov. 2019 Serotonin is produced in the gut by a biochemical conversion between tryptophan and its catalyst, tryptophan hydroxylase. — Natalie Meade, Quartz, "The key to good mental health in quarantine is in the food you eat," 24 Apr. 2020 Your eating habits also have an impact on your sleep quality — Dr. Mera suggests having dinner two hours before bed, with foods rich in tryptophan, magnesium, vitamin B6, and calcium. — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, "Get a Perfect Night of Sleep With These Expert Tips," 28 Apr. 2020 While earthlings were nursing tryptophan comas over Thanksgiving weekend, NASA's Curiosity Rover was busy stitching together a 1,000-picture panorama of Gale crater—the most pixel-dense image of Mars ever taken. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "This Is the Highest-Res Panorama of Mars...Ever," 6 Mar. 2020 The football gods seemingly handed the Jets a de facto second bye against this tomato can, but the tryptophan evidently was still in Gang Green’s system. — Dave Clark, Cincinnati.com, "'New York Daily News' column insisted Bengals game would be 'cakewalk' for Jets," 2 Dec. 2019 Green banana skins are both rich in the amino acid tryptophan (associated with good sleep quality) and also in resistant starch, which will benefit gut health. — Leah Groth, Health.com, "Can Eating Banana Peels Help You Lose Weight?," 2 Dec. 2019 Unless both players simultaneously overdose on tryptophan before coming to the arena tonight, the Clippers are not an optimal opponent for a Spurs team still looking to stop its freefall. — Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "Kawhi Leonard’s return won’t help San Antonio Spurs stop skid," 28 Nov. 2019

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

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Last Updated

24 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Tryptophan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tryptophan. Accessed 23 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for tryptophan

tryptophan

noun

tryp·to·phan | \ ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan

\

variants: also tryptophane \ -ˌfān

How to pronounce tryptophan (audio)

\

Medical Definition of tryptophan

: a crystalline essential amino acid C₁₁H₁₂N₂O₂ that is widely distributed in proteins —abbreviation Trp

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