gland

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈgland 

1

a

: a specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body compare endocrine gland, exocrine gland

b

: any of various animal structures suggestive of glands though not secretory in function

2

: any of various secreting organs (such as a nectary) of plants

glandless

ˈgland-ləs 

adjective

gland

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a device for preventing leakage of fluid past a joint in machinery

2

: the movable part of a stuffing box by which the packing is compressed

Examples of gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Depending on what’s causing it—Graves disease or noncancerous growths, for example—that might mean medication or surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024

An ultrasound can diagnose health conditions that involve soft tissues like organs, blood vessels, and glands. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024

The male white-nest swiftlet (also called the edible-nest swiftlet) creates the pale nest by secreting saliva from a pair of glands under his tongue. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

A lot of arboreal ants lost these glands sometime in their evolution, maybe because not being underground leaves them less susceptible to pathogens. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French glande, from Old French, glandular swelling on the neck, gland, ultimately from Latin gland-, glans acorn; akin to Greek balanos acorn

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gland

• adrenal gland
• apocrine gland
• Bartholin's gland
• bulbourethral gland
• Cowper's gland
• digestive gland
• ductless gland
• eccrine gland
• eccrine sweat gland
• endocrine gland
• exocrine gland
• gastric gland
• green gland
• lymph gland
• mammary gland
• oil gland
• parathyroid gland
• parotid gland
• pineal gland
• pituitary gland
• prostate gland
• prothoracic gland
• salivary gland
• salt gland
• sebaceous gland
• sex gland
• silk gland
• suprarenal gland
• sweat gland
• thymus gland
• uropygial gland

Kids Definition

gland

noun

ˈgland

: a cell or group of cells that makes and secretes a product (as saliva, sweat, bile, or shell) for further use in or for elimination from the plant or animal body

Medical Definition

gland

noun

ˈgland 

1

: a cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materials from the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body

2

: any of various animal structures (as a lymph node) suggestive of glands though not secretory in function

glandless

ˈglan-dləs 

adjective