lymph node

American  

noun

lymph nodes plural

1. any of the glandlike masses of tissue in the lymphatic vessels containing cells that become lymphocytes.

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lymph node British  

noun

1. any of numerous bean-shaped masses of tissue, situated along the course of lymphatic vessels, that help to protect against infection by killing bacteria and neutralizing toxins and are the source of lymphocytes

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lymph node Scientific  

1. A bean-shaped mass of tissue found at intervals along the vessels of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes filter foreign substances from the blood.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lymph nodes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lymph node

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

“I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer. I’m four for four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five for five.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

After a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer, Vitale underwent surgery in the summer of 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

These included a mastectomy and lymph node procedure performed in 28 minutes, and an excision of benign thickened breast tissue in 10 minutes, "which the review team considered to have been unnecessary".

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025

People with cancer often develop malfunctioning dendritic cells, and the artificial lymph node skips the dendritic cell to directly activate T-cells.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2024

That is, if somebody didn't crack up, or get lymph node swellings that wouldn't reduce, and if you didn't have to try to play nursemaid.

From The Planet Strappers by Gallun, Raymond Z.