parathyroid

1 of 2

noun

para·​thy·​roid ˌper-ə-ˈthī-ˌrȯid How to pronounce parathyroid (audio)
ˌpa-rə-

parathyroid

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or produced by the parathyroid glands

Examples of parathyroid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In some cases, your doctor may give you medication that mimics the effects of calcium in the blood in an attempt to trick the parathyroid into scaling back its hormone production. Korin Miller, SELF, 24 Apr. 2018 Pritikin herself had her thyroid removed and suffers from a disease of the parathyroid. Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times, 2 Aug. 2017
Adjective
It may be recommended for people who don't get enough calcium from their diets, as well as those with conditions such as osteoporosis, parathyroid disorders, and some muscle problems. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2022 The parathyroid glands keep track of the calcium in the blood by communicating with the kidneys, gut, and bones on a minute-by-minute basis. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Apr. 2022 Gut microbes also appear to moderate another signal that affects bone: parathyroid hormone (PTH), from the parathyroid glands at the base of the neck. Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022 Not getting enough calcium can trigger the parathyroid glands to produce more parathyroid hormone, Dr. Alesci explains. Jessica Migala, Health.com, 2 June 2021 Removing the parathyroid glands is one way—an intrusive way—to get to the source of the problem, and it is typically reserved for patients who are unresponsive to other treatment options. Grace-Marie Turner, Forbes, 1 June 2021 The cause was a parathyroid tumor, said a daughter, Deborah Calcaterra. David Whipple, Washington Post, 2 July 2019 In that case, federal prosecutors contend Quest/Nichols sold misbranded tests to various laboratories that were unreliable in measuring parathyroid hormone levels in patients. Joe Mandak, The Seattle Times, 13 July 2017 At this point nothing except injections of parathyroid hormone and, perhaps, a new injectable drug called abaloparatide now being tested in clinical trials, make bone denser and stronger. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parathyroid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of parathyroid was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near parathyroid

Cite this Entry

“Parathyroid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parathyroid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

parathyroid

adjective
para·​thy·​roid
ˌpar-ə-ˈthī-ˌrȯid
: of, relating to, or produced by the parathyroid glands

Medical Definition

parathyroid

1 of 2 noun
para·​thy·​roid -ˈthī-ˌrȯid How to pronounce parathyroid (audio)

parathyroid

2 of 2 adjective
1
: adjacent to a thyroid gland
2
: of, relating to, or produced by the parathyroid glands
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