enhancer en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ɪnˈhɑːnsə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ɛnˈhænsɚ/ (General-American)
- /ɪnˈhænsɚ/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English enhance Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English enhancer From enhance + -er.
Meanings
-
Something that enhances.
Mucuna pruriens' Latin name may be thought to suggest its predilection, but actually means itchy. Nonetheless, one can easily find it being sold in capsules as a sex enhancer. It has actually been used as such in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
2007, Ken Albala, Beans: A History, page 95:
- A short region of DNA that can increase transcription of genes.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| enhancers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
photoenhancer · enhancer RNA · neuroenhancer · bioenhancer · enhancerless · memory enhancer · nanoenhancer · flavor enhancer · superenhancer · pharmacoenhancer · immunoenhancer