pituitary

[pi-too-i-ter-ee, -tyoo-]

noun

plural

pituitaries 

1. pituitary gland.

2. Pharmacology.,  the extract obtained from the lobes of the pituitary glands of hogs, sheep, and other domestic animals: the posterior lobe constituent increases blood pressure, contracts stomach muscles, etc., and the anterior lobe constituent regulates growth of the skeleton.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving the pituitary gland.

2. noting a physical type of abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from excessive pituitary secretion.

pituitary

/ -trɪ, pɪˈtjuːɪtərɪ /

noun

1. See pituitary gland pituitary extract

adjective

1. of or relating to the pituitary gland

2. archaic,  of or relating to phlegm or mucus

Other Word Forms

• postpituitary adjective
• prepituitary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pituitary¹

First recorded in 1605–15, pituitary is from the Latin word pītuītārius pertaining to or secreting phlegm. See pip ², -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of pituitary¹

C17: from Late Latin pītuītārius slimy, from pītuīta phlegm

Example Sentences

The Ropinirole that James takes belongs to a family of drugs known as dopamine agonists, which are prescribed for Parkinson's, RLS, pituitary tumours and other conditions.

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Sitting just underneath the hypothalamus is the body's hormone factory - the pituitary gland.

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The reviewers were particularly concerned with the compound’s potential to harm pregnant women and children, as well as its effect on the pituitary gland.

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He said a non-cancerous tumour had been found on his pituitary gland in his brain.

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Very rarely, the syndrome can be caused by the body producing too much cortisol, caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland in the brain or in one of the adrenal glands above the kidneys.

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