parotid gland

noun

: a serous salivary gland situated on each side of the face below and in front of the ear

Examples of parotid gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this disorder, nerves regenerate after damage to either of the large saliva glands that sit on either side of the face, just in front of the ears, called the parotid glands. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024

Anatomy quirk Seven years before that doctor's appointment, the woman had undergone surgery to remove the parotid gland on that side of her face due to the growth of a benign tumor. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024

Mumps symptoms include discomfort and swelling of the salivary glands in the front of the neck or the parotid glands in front of the ears. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2019

Grunewald had surgery for the first time in her life, in which doctors removed the tumor in her parotid gland. —Samantha Bresnahan, CNN, 14 Mar. 2018

Mumps can cause serious complications Mumps is a viral illness that affects the saliva-producing glands (called the parotid glands) in the face and neck. —Amanda MacMillan, Health.com, 7 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

parotid gland

noun

: either of a pair of large salivary glands located below and in front of the ear

Medical Definition

parotid gland

noun

: a salivary gland that is situated on each side of the face below and in front of the ear, in humans is the largest of the salivary glands, is of pure serous type, and communicates with the mouth by the parotid duct