effector

American  

[ih-fek-ter] / ɪˈfɛk tər /

noun

1. Also effecter a person or thing that effects.

2. Physiology. an organ or cell that carries out a response to a nerve impulse.

3. Biochemistry. a substance, as a hormone, that increases or decreases the activity of an enzyme.

4. end effector.

   The device has three arms with effectors that can grip and pick up objects.

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effector British  

/ ɪˈfɛktə /

noun

1. physiol a nerve ending that terminates in a muscle or gland and provides neural stimulation causing contraction or secretion

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Etymology

Origin of effector

1595–1605; < Latin, equivalent to effec-, variant stem of efficere ( see effect) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The researchers also discovered that genes responsible for these bacterial effector proteins are more common in the gut microbiomes of people with Crohn's disease.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

They add that knowledge of horizontal transfer mechanisms and putative donor taxa might help to design future intercropping strategies that minimize the risk of transfer of effector genes between closely related Fusarium taxa.

From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2024

The study marks the first time researchers have searched for effector proteins on this scale, and has identified many new effectors that could be used therapeutically.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024

Matching a target protein with the right effector is essential to successfully, and safely, facilitate degradation and stabilization processes in tissues.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024

The reed portion of the instrument acting alone can only express emotional feeling; the resonator, the effector of articulate speech, is the instrument of intelligence, will, and feeling.

From The Brain and the Voice in Speech and Song by Mott, F. W. (Frederick Walker)