thyroid gland

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a two-lobed endocrine gland, located at the base of the neck that secretes two hormones that regulate the rates of metabolism, growth, and development.

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thyroid gland British  

noun

1. an endocrine gland of vertebrates, consisting in man of two lobes near the base of the neck. It secretes hormones that control metabolism and body growth

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thyroid gland Scientific  

/ thī′roid′ /

1. A two-lobed gland that wraps around the trachea and is located at the base of the neck in vertebrate animals. The thyroid gland secretes two important hormones: thyroxine, which regulates the cell metabolism necessary for normal growth and development, and calcitonin, which stimulates the formation of bone and helps regulate the amount of calcium in the blood.

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Etymology

Origin of thyroid gland

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Surgeons removed her thyroid gland but did not fully eradicate the cancer, which had spread to her vocal cords, the paper said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

About 80% of people with an overactive thyroid gland have it.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2024

These include thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to release two other hormones: triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine, or T4.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2024

An overactive thyroid gland could lead to weight loss and make it hard to fall asleep.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 28, 2023

My zoology thesis was a functional analysis of the thyroid gland of the three-toed sloth.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel