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gonad

noun
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go·​nad | \ ˈgō-ˌnad How to pronounce gonad (audio) \

Definition of gonad

: a reproductive gland (such as an ovary or testis) that produces gametes
Other Words from gonad Example Sentences Learn More about gonad

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Other Words from gonad

gonadal \ gō-​ˈna-​dᵊl How to pronounce gonadal (audio) \ adjective

Examples of gonad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And most purple urchins aren’t marketable because their only edible parts, their gonads, are considered too small. — Maurice Roper, National Geographic, "THE BEST OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX," 30 Apr. 2020 The signal is read by cells that go on to form the animal's gonads, which go on to produce hormones that direct the turtle's development. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "How turtles use temperature to figure out their sex," 17 Apr. 2020 But the urchins living in barren environments have little to eat so their insides, including their prized golden gonads, are shriveled and commercially worthless. — Smithsonian, "Can Eating Sea Urchins Help Revive Kelp Forests?," 21 Sep. 2019 The one positive is that purple urchins have fleshy gonads known to sushi lovers as uni. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Climate havoc wipes out coastal kelp as S.F. Bay’s native fish species die off," 22 Oct. 2019 The body and brain swap information via the chemicals released by endocrine organs like the thyroid and gonads, as well as parts of the immune system. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Inside the Forever War Against Parasites Trying To Control Our Brains," 23 Sep. 2019 After the spring, their male gonads age and drop off in a single molt and an ovary develops. — Emily Toomey, Smithsonian, "Newborn Shrimp Often Undergo Sex Reversal, but Ocean Acidification Could Disturb That Natural Process," 28 June 2019 Credit where credit is due: Evolution has invented a galaxy of clever adaptations, from fish that swim up sea cucumber butts and eat their gonads, to parasites that mind-control their hosts in wildly complex ways. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "An Itty-Bitty Robot That Lifts Off Like a Sci-Fi Spaceship," 4 July 2019 The hermaphrodite has 302 neurons, which connect to 132 muscles and 26 other spots, such as the gut, gonads and skin. — Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, "Worm Wiring Diagram May Help Us Understand Our Own Nervous System," 3 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gonad.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of gonad

1880, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gonad

New Latin gonad-, gonas, from Greek gonos

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Time Traveler for gonad

Time Traveler

The first known use of gonad was in 1880

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Cite this Entry

“Gonad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gonad. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.

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More Definitions for gonad

gonad

noun
How to pronounce gonad (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of gonad

technical : a sex organ that produces sperm or eggs : a testicle or an ovary

See the full definition for gonad in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gonad

noun
go·​nad | \ ˈgō-ˌnad How to pronounce gonad (audio) \

Medical Definition of gonad

: a gamete-producing reproductive gland (as an ovary or testis)

Other Words from gonad

gonadal \ gō-​ˈnad-​ᵊl How to pronounce gonadal (audio) \ adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gonad

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gonad

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