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

See Examples For:

lymph node

“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

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

In the decade that followed, Jones said, he underwent lung surgery twice and lymph node surgery two times as well.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed an artificial lymph node with the potential to treat cancer, according to a new study in mice and human cells.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2024

One cannot avoid comparing the lymph node with a strong fortress thrown in the path of a victorious invading army behind which the defenders may gather and which affords them time to renovate their strength.

From Disease and Its Causes by William Thomas Councilman