agonist

[ ag-uh-nist ]
/ ˈæg ə nɪst /

noun

a person engaged in a contest, conflict, struggle, etc., especially the protagonist in a literary work.
a person who is torn by inner conflict.
Physiology. a contracting muscle whose action is opposed by another muscle. Compare antagonist(def 3).
Pharmacology. a chemical substance capable of activating a receptor to induce a full or partial pharmacological response. Compare antagonist(def 5).

Origin of agonist

1620–30; < Late Latin agōnista < Greek agōnistḗs contestant, equivalent to agṓn agon + -istēs -ist

Words nearby agonist

agonadal, agonal, agone, agonic, agonic line, agonist, agonistic, agonize, agonized, agonizing, agony

Example sentences from the Web for agonist

British Dictionary definitions for agonist

agonist
/ (ˈæɡənɪst) /

noun

any muscle that is opposed in action by another muscle Compare antagonist (def. 2)
a competitor, as in an agon

Word Origin for agonist

C17: from Greek agōn agon

Medical definitions for agonist

agonist
[ ăg′ə-nĭst ]

n.

A contracting muscle that is resisted or counteracted by an antagonistic muscle.
A substance that can combine with a cell receptor to produce a reaction typical for that substance.

Scientific definitions for agonist

agonist
[ ăg′ə-nĭst ]

A muscle that actively contracts to produce a desired movement.
A chemical substance, especially a drug, that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic response. Compare antagonist.