gland¹ Definition
gland (gland)
noun
- any organ or specialized group of cells that produces secretions, as insulin or bile, or excretions, as urine: some glands, as the liver and kidneys, have ducts that empty into an organ: the ductless (or endocrine) glands, as the thyroid and adrenals, secrete hormones
- loosely any similar structure that is not a true gland lymph glands
- Bot. an organ or layer of cells that produces and secretes some substance
Etymology: Fr glande < OFr glandre < L glandula, tonsil, dim. of glans (gen. glandis), acorn (< IE base *gwel-, oak, acorn > Gr balanos)
gland² Definition
gland (gland)
noun
Mech. a movable part that compresses the packing in a stuffing box
Etymology: < ?
gland Synonyms
gland
n.
Kinds of glands include: simple, compound, tubular, saccular, racemose, ductless, adrenal, carotid, endocrine, lymphatic, parathyroid, parotid, pineal, pituitary, thyroid, thymus, sebaceous, sudoriparous, tear, sweat, lacrimal, serous, muciparous, salivary, piloric, mammary, seminal, prostrate, urethral, vaginal.
gland Usage Examples
Converse of subject
secrete: Cervical mucus is secreted by tiny glands lining the canal.
Converse of object
- secrete: A. The pancreas is a long secreting gland situated at the back of the abdomen, adjacent to the stomach.
- inflame: Within the first group, with inflamed glands did not compress the neck vessels.
- stimulate: They also stimulate the thyroid gland, which plays an important role in the processes of growth.
Adjective modifier
- adrenal: Each person has two adrenal glands just above the kidneys.
- pituitary: The pituitary gland is a gland found at the back of our heads toward the bottom of the brain.
- salivary: The salivary glands create saliva, which is then secreted into your mouth via the salivary ducts.
- thyroid: The thyroid gland is situated at the base of the throat.
- mammary: The mammary gland however, exhibits profound developmental cycling in the adult.
- pineal: The free radical fighting abilities of melatonin - a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland in your brain - are well known.
Modifies a noun
- adenoma: We report a case of Brunner's gland adenoma in which the patient presented with major gastrointestinal bleeding.
- neoplasm: A second type of human benign salivary gland neoplasm.
- tumor: AB - OBJECTIVE: To delineate the spectrum of salivary gland tumors in our setup.
- secretion: Mandibular gland secretions of leaf-cutting ants: role in defense against alien fungi.
Noun used with modifier
- lymph: Also the lymph glands nearest to the scar site will be examined, to ensure that the melanoma has not spread.
- prostate: Only a part of the prostate gland - not the whole gland is removed, in order to relieve urinary symptoms.
- thymus: All of them are derived from the bone marrow but T cells undergo a process of maturation in the thymus gland.
- sweat: Sweat is produced from the sweat gland, reaching the skin surface through the pores.
- scent: The male has a thin black streak of sexual scent glands.
- hypothalamus: This hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland and monitored by thyrotropin-releasing hormone ( TRH ), which is produced in the hypothalamus gland.

