parotid

American

[puh-rot-id] / pəˈrɒt ɪd /

noun

Also called parotid gland. a salivary gland situated at the base of each ear.

adjective

of, relating to, or situated near either parotid.

parotid British

/ pəˈrɒtɪd /

adjective

relating to or situated near the parotid 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

noun

See parotid 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

Other Word Forms

parotidean adjective
postparotid adjective

Etymology

Origin of parotid

1680–90; < New Latin parōtid- (stem of parōtis ) parotid gland; Latin: tumor near the ear < Greek parōtís. See par-, oto-

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.

She was told she required parotidectomy surgery which involved removing part of a major salivary gland in her cheek called the parotid gland.

From BBC

The warty amphibian can secrete a milky poison from the parotid glands behind its shoulders that can be fatal to wildlife.

From Washington Post

The study analyzed the effects of inhaling the vapor of dried toad secretion from the parotid gland, which is found near the toad’s eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

Billows has been undergoing treatment for parotid salivary cancer since November 2020 and wants to spend more time with his family.

From Seattle Times

Radiation damage to the parotid glands can lead to long-term dryness of the mouth, and treatment plans designed to avoid the glands reduce the risk of damage.

From Nature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023