gland

¹ American  

[gland] / glænd /

noun

1. Anatomy.

   1. a cell, group of cells, or organ producing a secretion.

   2. any of various organs or structures resembling the shape but not the function of true glands.

2. Botany.  a secreting organ or structure.

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gland ² American  

[gland] / glænd /

noun

Machinery.

1. a sleeve within a stuffing box, fitted over a shaft or valve stem and tightened against compressible packing in such a way as to prevent leakage of fluid while allowing the shaft or stem to move; lantern ring.

2. stuffing box.

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gland ¹ British  

/ ɡlænd /

noun

1. a cell or organ in man and other animals that synthesizes chemical substances and secretes them for the body to use or eliminate, either through a duct (exocrine gland) or directly into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) See also exocrine gland endocrine gland

2. a structure, such as a lymph node, that resembles a gland in form

3. a cell or organ in plants that synthesizes and secretes a particular substance

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gland ² British  

/ ɡlænd /

noun

1. a device that prevents leakage of fluid along a rotating shaft or reciprocating rod passing through a boundary between areas of high and low pressure. It often consists of a flanged metal sleeve bedding into a stuffing box

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gland Scientific  

/ glănd /

1. An organ or group of specialized cells in the body that produces and secretes a specific substance, such as a hormone.

2. See also endocrine gland exocrine gland

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Other Word Forms

• glandless adjective
• glandlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of gland¹

1685–95; < Latin gland- (stem of glāns acorn); compare Italian ghianda

Origin of gland¹

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

She underwent an operation which included the removal of her salivary glands, causing her to temporarily lose her sense of smell and taste.

From BBC

It can result in too much growth hormone, which is produced and released by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland just below the brain.

From BBC

He was born without sweat glands, or at least, not very many.

From New York Times

Today's lorises, cute as some are, number among few known venomous mammals; to fight, they lick special inner-elbow glands for poisonous oil that fills grooves in their teeth.

From Scientific American

It also dissolves sebum, an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands near your hair follicles.

From Seattle Times