thymus

noun

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

Dria has been waiting over a year for a thymus transplant to regenerate her immune cells. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Family stays by side of 4-year-old awaiting transplants," 12 June 2018 Even more critical is his need for a thymus transplant. — Peter Rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "A Mother's Day gift for a struggling baby: loving attention," 13 May 2018 In the older sedentary people, the output of new T cells from the thymus glands was low. — Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, "How Exercise Can Keep Aging Muscles and Immune Systems ‘Young’," 14 Mar. 2018 The cause was complications from a rare cancer of the thymus, said his wife Christina Llewellyn. — Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, "Ed Bordley, championship-winning blind wrestler and Harvard Law graduate, dies at 61," 2 Mar. 2018 Other parts of the immune system include the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, lymphocytes, white blood cells, and antibodies. — Philly.com, "Teens and their tonsils: When do they need to be out?," 1 Mar. 2018 Yes, sweetbreads are organ meats, but fear not: These thymus and pancreas glands are notably mild and smooth. — Alison Cook, Houston Chronicle, "Eat this: Mesquite-grilled sweetbreads at El Tiempo Cantina," 1 Nov. 2017 Meanwhile, his mother, Kim, was fighting a rare cancer affecting her thymus, an organ of the immune system. — David Woods, Indianapolis Star, "Butler basketball looks for Sean McDermott to fill void," 4 Oct. 2017 GHRH is normally produced in the brain, but Hanley was essentially turning a pencil-eraser-size part of his thigh into a gland that made the molecule, which stimulates the heart, the kidneys, and the thymus. — Tad Friend, The New Yorker, "Silicon Valley’s Quest to Live Forever," 24 Mar. 2017

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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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