English Lexicon

Inhibitor

/ɪnˈhɪbɪtər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A substance that slows down or prevents a particular chemical reaction or process.

    "The enzyme inhibitor effectively reduced the reaction rate in the experiment."
  2. 2

    A drug or agent that blocks the activity of a specific biological process.

    "The doctor prescribed a beta-blocker as an inhibitor for the patient's high blood pressure."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'inhibitor' originates from the Latin word 'inhibere', meaning 'to hold back' or 'to restrain'. It evolved through Middle English and has been used in scientific contexts since the late 19th century to describe substances that slow down or prevent chemical reactions.

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