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Glite Dictionary
releasing factor

releasing factor

7.8
A chemical made in the hypothalamus that tells the pituitary gland to send out a certain hormone
  • noun
  • /rɪˈliːsɪŋ ˈfæktər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : factor de liberación
  • Researchers discovered a new releasing factor in the brain.
  • corticotropin-releasing factor

Examples

  • An abnormality in a releasing factor can disrupt the balance of hormones in the body.

  • The hypothalamus secretes a releasing factor to prompt the pituitary gland to produce growth hormone.

  • Scientists are studying how each releasing factor controls various endocrine responses.

  • The releasing factor stimulates hormone secretion.

  • Luteinizing hormone releasing factor stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce luteinizing hormone.

  • The hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin releasing factor in response to stress.

  • Thyrotropin-releasing hormone acts as a releasing factor for the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Synonyms

RF
vsreleasing factor
  • Specialized
5 9.6

A chemical made by the hypothalamus that makes the pituitary gland release a hormone

is identical in meaning but written as the full phrase not the short form
RH
vsreleasing factor
  • Specialized
1 8.9

A hormone from the brain that tells the pituitary to release other hormones

is the longer full phrase rather than the abbreviated form
releasing hormone
vsreleasing factor
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A hormone made in the brain that tells the pituitary gland to release other hormones

is broader in scope, including hormone-like substances as well as hormones
hypothalamic releasing factor
vsreleasing factor
  • Specialized
9.3

A chemical made in the hypothalamus that tells the pituitary gland to release other hormones

is broader, covering both true hormones and hormone-like substances
hypothalamic releasing hormone
vsreleasing factor
  • Specialized
7.2

A chemical made in the brain that tells the pituitary gland to release specific hormones

does not stress transport but highlights the causative role in pituitary release

Surface Forms

releasing factor singular
releasing factors plural

Morphology

releasing + factor

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'releasing' (causing release) + 'factor' (an element that influences an outcome), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes an element that causes release. Although the term is used in a technical biomedical sense (a hormone causing another hormone's release), that specific domain usage does not change its transparent, predictable structure.

Etymology

The term releasing factor comes from a simple image: releasing means making something come out and factor means a thing that causes change, so together it is 'a thing that causes release'. In the body, a releasing factor is a substance that tells a gland to release a specific hormone, which is why the name fits its meaning.