gland

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈgland 

1

a

: a specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body compare endocrine gland, exocrine gland

b

: any of various animal structures suggestive of glands though not secretory in function

2

: any of various secreting organs (such as a nectary) of plants

glandless

ˈgland-ləs 

adjective

gland

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a device for preventing leakage of fluid past a joint in machinery

2

: the movable part of a stuffing box by which the packing is compressed

Examples of gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dorio, 72, said it was expected to take about three hours to remove the tumor and half of Clough’s thyroid gland. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

This includes hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland produces too few hormones, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance that affects ovulation.56 Once diagnosed, these conditions can be treated with medication to help regulate hormones, reducing the spotting episodes. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 7 Apr. 2024

In addition, lips lack other skin features, such as hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands that provide extra moisture or oils. —Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

But many biologists refused to believe that the brain might produce hormones like a mere gland. —Nicholas Wade, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024

Hypothyroidism is a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. —Brad Reisfeld, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

The prostate gland has an epithelial part where the gland cells make PSA and prostate-specific antigens; those epithelial cells or stem cells that regenerate the gland cells are the source of cancer. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 Feb. 2024

Read More: Suffering Shouldn’t Be a Normal Part of Womanhood For early intervention, few examples are more relevant than postpartum thyroiditis, which occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to be inflamed. —Maytal Eyal and Bridget Freihart, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

The tumor had spread through the thyroid gland, onto the carotid artery and into the tracheal rings. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French glande, from Old French, glandular swelling on the neck, gland, ultimately from Latin gland-, glans acorn; akin to Greek balanos acorn

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gland

• adrenal gland
• apocrine gland
• Bartholin's gland
• bulbourethral gland
• Cowper's gland
• digestive gland
• ductless gland
• eccrine gland
• eccrine sweat gland
• endocrine gland
• exocrine gland
• gastric gland
• green gland
• lymph gland
• mammary gland
• oil gland
• parathyroid gland
• parotid gland
• pineal gland
• pituitary gland
• prostate gland
• prothoracic gland
• salivary gland
• salt gland
• sex gland
• silk gland
• suprarenal gland
• sweat gland
• thymus gland
• uropygial gland

Kids Definition

gland

noun

ˈgland

: a cell or group of cells that makes and secretes a product (as saliva, sweat, bile, or shell) for further use in or for elimination from the plant or animal body

Medical Definition

gland

noun

ˈgland 

1

: a cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body

2

: any of various animal structures (as a lymph node) suggestive of glands though not secretory in function

glandless

ˈglan-dləs 

adjective