thyroid gland

American  

noun

Anatomy.

thyroid glands plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thyroid glands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of thyroid gland

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thyroid gland

Russian scientists working with government agencies claim to have bioprinted human cartilage tissue and a mouse thyroid gland, with the aim of achieving human organ replacement by 2030.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

One suggested that going on a sunbed for "eight minutes" could prevent colds and flu, while another claimed that UV rays could "stimulate the thyroid gland" to help someone lose weight.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

Hashimoto’s disease affects the thyroid gland, which is responsible for producing hormones and regulating many bodily functions, according to the Mayo Clinic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

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

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

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel