agonist

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀγωνιστής (agōnistēs, “combatant, champion”)

Noun

agonist (plural agonists)

1. Someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon).
2. The muscle that contracts while the other relaxes.

   "when bending the elbow the biceps are the agonist"

3. (biochemistry) A molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.

   "acetylcholine is an agonist at the a cholinergic receptor"

Derived terms

• agonistical
• agonistics
• antagonist
• protagonist
• deuteragonist
• tritagonist

Translations

someone involved in a contest or battle

a muscle that contracts while another relaxes

molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell

• Czech: agonista (cs) m