tryptophan

noun

tryp·​to·​phan ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan 

variants or less commonly tryptophane

ˈtrip-tə-ˌfān 

: a crystalline essential amino acid C₁₁H₁₂N₂O₂ that is widely distributed in proteins

Examples of tryptophan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The weekend after Thanksgiving is usually a quiet time for moviegoing, but this year’s offerings shook off the tryptophan to deliver the biggest post-Turkey Day bounty with approximately $132 million across all films. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024

Clinical studies have found that tryptophan, through diet or supplementation, may help improve sleep quality.2 In the body, tryptophan received from your diet is converted to melatonin. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 27 Oct. 2024

But the tryptophan/carb combo is only part of the reason for your torpor. —Nick Stockton, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2024

Turkey famously contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin and melatonin, which regulate sleep-wake cycles. —Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Tryptophan, from tryptisch tryptic + -o- -o- + -phan -phane

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tryptophan

• L-tryptophan

Kids Definition

tryptophan

noun

tryp·​to·​phan ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan 

: an amino acid that is found in many proteins and is necessary for life but cannot be manufactured by the human body and must be obtained in food

Medical Definition

tryptophan

noun

tryp·​to·​phan ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan 

variants also tryptophane

-ˌfān 

: a crystalline essential amino acid C₁₁H₁₂N₂O₂ that is widely distributed in proteins

—abbreviation Trp