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

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

"And I'm like, 'oh, this lymph node is a little bit bigger'. And a couple of weeks later, it's still bigger."

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2025

"Because cancers can trick T-cells into staying dormant, the artificial lymph node was designed to inform and activate T-cells that are injected alongside the lymph node."

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