pineal

[ pin-ee-uhl, pahy-nee-, pahy-nee- ]

adjective

1. resembling a pine cone in shape.
2. of or relating to the pineal body.

pineal

/ ˈpɪnɪəl; paɪˈniːəl /

adjective

1. resembling a pine cone
2. of or relating to the pineal gland

Other Words From

• pre·pine·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pineal¹

1675–85; < New Latin pīneālis, equivalent to Latin pīne ( a ) pine cone, noun use of feminine of pīneus of a pine tree ( pīn ( us ) pine ¹ + -eus -eous ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pineal¹

C17: via French from Latin pīnea pine cone

Example Sentences

It had a prominent pineal foramen -- a hole in the top of its head that many lizard species use to sense sunlight and judge the length of daylight hours.

From Science Daily

Melatonin is produced naturally in the pineal gland to signal the body that it is time to sleep and regulate its circadian rhythm -- the physiological cycle over a 24-hour period.

From Science Daily

These supplements, including sugary gummies, typically offer much higher doses than what the pineal gland produces to help shift circadian rhythm to night mode.

From Scientific American

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland, a small structure at the center of the brain.

From Washington Post

It inhibits the production of natural signals such as melatonin, a hormone that is produced by the brain's pineal gland as the night arrives and in response to darkness.

From Salon