endocrine gland

American  

noun

1. any of various glands, as the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands, that secrete certain substances or hormones directly into the blood or lymph; ductless gland.

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endocrine gland British  

noun

1. Also called: ductless gland.  any of the glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, including the pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, testes, ovaries, and the pancreatic islets of Langerhans

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endocrine gland Scientific  

/ ĕn′də-krĭn,-krēn′ /

1. A gland of the body that produces hormones and secretes them directly into the bloodstream. In mammals, the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland, as well as the ovaries, testes, and the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas are endocrine glands.

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endocrine gland Cultural  

1. A gland that secretes hormones directly into the blood. These glands make up the endocrine system.

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Etymology

Origin of endocrine gland

First recorded in 1910–15