Main Entry: goi·ter

Variant(s): or chiefly British goi·tre \ˈgȯit-ər\

Function: noun

: an enlargement of the thyroid gland that is commonly visible as a swelling of the anterior part of the neck, that often results from insufficient intake of iodine and then is usually accompanied by hypothyroidism, and that in other cases is associated with hyperthyroidism usually together with toxic symptoms and exophthalmos—called also struma

[goiter illustration]

—goi·trous \ˈgȯi-trəs\ also goi·ter·ous \ˈgȯit-ə-rəs\ adjective