1
a
: a specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body compare endocrine gland, exocrine gland
b
: any of various animal structures suggestive of glands though not secretory in function
2
: any of various secreting organs (such as a nectary) of plants
1
: a device for preventing leakage of fluid past a joint in machinery
2
: the movable part of a stuffing box by which the packing is compressed
Examples of gland in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
Birds, on the other hand, have glands above their eyes that secrete high-salinity fluid like a mammal’s kidney would.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Symptoms that don’t impact the glands—called extra-glandular symptoms—can also include joint swelling, pain and stiffness, fatigue and skin rashes.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Mar. 2026
Secondly, the mice had healthy thymus glands well into old age.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gland
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Noun
Back in 2011, North Korea officials blamed traditional medicines based on deer glands for causing the squad's five positive tests for steroids at the Women’s World Cup.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
Birds, on the other hand, have glands above their eyes that secrete high-salinity fluid like a mammal’s kidney would.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Symptoms that don’t impact the glands—called extra-glandular symptoms—can also include joint swelling, pain and stiffness, fatigue and skin rashes.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Mar. 2026
Secondly, the mice had healthy thymus glands well into old age.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gland
Cite this Entry
“Gland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gland. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
gland
noun1
: a cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body
2
: any of various animal structures (as a lymph node) suggestive of glands though not secretory in function
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