parotid gland

American  

[per-aht-id gland] / pərˈɑt ɪd ˌglænd /

noun

• parotid glands
  plural

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

2. Zoology. a similar gland found in snakes, modified to produce secretions of saliva or venom.

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parotid gland British  

noun

1. a large salivary gland, in man situated in front of and below each ear

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parotid gland Scientific  

/ pə-rŏt′ĭd /

1. Either of the pair of salivary glands situated below and in front of each ear.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• parotid glands
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parotid gland

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 ● Mar. 4, 2025

Discuss how saliva produced by the parotid gland differs in action from saliva produced by the sublingual gland.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Vilanova, who was gouged in the eye by Mourinho after their Supercopa match at the start of the season, was back after recovering from surgery to remove a tumor on his parotid gland.

From New York Times ● Dec. 11, 2011

Separately, researchers are also examining whether cell phone use increases the risk of tumors in the ear's acoustic nerve and the parotid gland, where saliva is produced.

From Salon ● May 17, 2010

After a period of incubation, which lasts from two to three weeks, there is fever, pain under one ear, and the parotid gland swells.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by Austin ?Malley