silk gland

noun

Definition of silk gland

: a gland that produces a viscid fluid which is extruded in filaments and hardens into silk on exposure to air: such as

a : either of a pair of greatly enlarged and modified salivary glands of an insect larva that produce a compound filament from which a larval or pupal cover (such as a cocoon) is spun

b : any of two or more abdominal glands of a spider that open through spinnerets and produce a filament used chiefly in the spinning of webs

Examples of silk gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By 300 million years ago, fossils show, eight-legged creatures with spiderlike mouth parts, primitive silk glands, and stumpy abdomens had emerged. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Spider genes put a new spin on arachnids’ potent venoms, stunning silks, and surprising history," 19 Oct. 2017

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

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