| releasing hormone | |
noun | |
| 1. | a substance produced by the hypothalamus that is capable of accelerating the secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland [syn: releasing factor] |
| 2. | any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each of these hormones causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormone |