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parathyroid

American  
[par-uh-thahy-roid] / ˌpær əˈθaɪ rɔɪd /

adjective

  1. situated near the thyroid gland.


parathyroid British  
/ ˌpærəˈθaɪrɔɪd /

adjective

  1. situated near the thyroid gland

  2. of or relating to the parathyroid glands

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. See parathyroid gland

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of parathyroid

First recorded in 1895–1900; para- 1 + thyroid

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.

When he arrived in Massachusetts for his first fellowship studying parathyroid hormone, Habener found a ready source of thyroid glands to study from a local Cambridge slaughterhouse that supplied calf meat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

Cells in parathyroid gland sense calcium increase causing parathyroid hormone release and stimulating calcium absorption.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In the presence of decreased blood glucose levels, insulin is produced by the parathyroid to increase calcium absorption.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The parathyroid and thyroid glands of the endocrine system detect changes in blood calcium levels.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

To have very much thyroid and very little pituitary, much adrenal and not enough parathyroid meant a great deal to the Organism as a whole, as well as to the vegetative apparatus.

From The Glands Regulating Personality by Berman, Louis, M.D.