gland
1 Americannoun
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Anatomy.
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a cell, group of cells, or organ producing a secretion.
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any of various organs or structures resembling the shape but not the function of true glands.
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Botany. a secreting organ or structure.
noun
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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.
noun
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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
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a structure, such as a lymph node, that resembles a gland in form
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a cell or organ in plants that synthesizes and secretes a particular substance
noun
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An organ or group of specialized cells in the body that produces and secretes a specific substance, such as a hormone.
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See also endocrine gland exocrine gland
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gland1
1685–95; < Latin gland- (stem of glāns acorn); compare Italian ghianda
Origin of gland2
First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain
Explanation
A gland is a small organ in your body that emits chemicals such as hormones. If you feel sick, your doctor may feel your neck to see if your glands are swollen. When your body is fighting off an infection, your glands may swell as they defend against the bacteria or virus. In addition to fighting illness, glands do all kinds of good work in your body, from regulating your metabolism to secreting hormones that control the rate at which you grow. The Latin source of gland is glandula, "gland of the throat," from glans, "acorn-shaped ball."
Vocabulary lists containing gland
Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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Life Science: Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The researchers argue that its evolutionary remains survive today as the pineal gland, a small organ located deep within the vertebrate brain.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
The pineal gland produces melatonin, a hormone that helps control the circadian rhythm.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
The therapy is not suitable for men whose cancer is in multiple parts of their prostate or has spread beyond the gland.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Russian scientists working with government agencies claim to have bioprinted human cartilage tissue and a mouse thyroid gland, with the aim of achieving human organ replacement by 2030.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
Bobby started to have urinary problems and thought it might simply be caused by an enlarged prostate gland, at first denying that anything was seriously wrong with him.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
