prolactin
prolactin — noun
1. a hormone produced in the brain that tells a woman's body to produce milk after
1.nounC1
Definition
a hormone produced in the brain that tells a woman's body to produce milk after she has given birth
Example
Doctors measured Lan's prolactin levels five days after she gave birth.
prolactin levels — common measurement collocation
High prolactin in the blood can sometimes affect a woman's monthly cycle.
prolactin in the blood — prepositional phrase
The nurse explained that prolactin helps new mothers produce enough milk for their babies.
Kasia's doctor ordered a blood test to check her prolactin production.
prolactin production — noun + noun collocation
Common collocations
- prolactin levels
- prolactin production
- high prolactin
- prolactin in the blood
Usage Note
Prolactin is an uncountable noun in most contexts. The word appears most often in medical or biological writing, especially in the phrase "prolactin levels."
Common collocations
Nouns
- level
- production
- secretion
- test