thymus

noun

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thy·mus | \ ˈthī-məs

variants: or thymus gland

plural thymuses also thymi\ ˈthī-ˌmī

Definition of thymus

: a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions especially in cell-mediated immunity by being the site where T cells develop, is present in the young of most vertebrates typically in the upper anterior chest or at the base of the neck, and gradually decreases in size and activity after puberty

Examples of thymus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web He was intubated for 10 days and underwent a battery of tests before doctors eventually found a fist-sized tumor on his thymus gland that had triggered his immune system, according to his parents, Todd and Sue Lang. — S. Wayne Carter Jr., baltimoresun.com, 25 May 2021 Your immune system consists of several parts: your spleen, lymphatic system, bone marrow, white blood cells, thymus, antibodies and the complement system. — Michael Rodgers, chicagotribune.com, 20 Mar. 2021 But in a study released in 2019, scientists were able to rejuvenate the thymus in a group of men between the ages of 51 and 65. — Eli Dourado, Fortune, 30 Dec. 2020 Sweetbreads, a term given to either the thymus or pancreas of a calf or lamb, is the type of intimidating ingredient that some diners avoid. — Marcy De Luna, Chron, 7 Jan. 2021 Treating the thymus could also drastically change the aging process. — Eli Dourado, Fortune, 30 Dec. 2020 The thymus is one place where such cleverness leaves its trace. — James Somers, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2020 The lymph system includes the lymph nodes as well as bone marrow, the spleen, and the thymus gland, the Mayo Clinic says. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 20 Oct. 2020 Production of these cells, from a gland in the chest known as the thymus, drops sharply over the course of a person’s life. — Anna Wilde Mathews, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2020

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

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Last Updated

3 Jun 2021

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“Thymus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thymus. Accessed 21 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for thymus

thymus

noun

thy·mus | \ ˈthī-məs

variants: or thymus gland

plural thymuses also thymi\ -ˌmī

Medical Definition of thymus

: a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions in cell-mediated immunity by being the site where T cells develop, that is present in the young of most vertebrates typically in the upper anterior chest or at the base of the neck, that arises from the epithelium of one or more embryonic branchial clefts, and that gradually decreases in size and activity after puberty