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

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

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

"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 Councilman, William Thomas