gland

CEFRB2

/ɡlænd/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    An organ that produces and releases a substance in the body.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A compressable cylindrical case and its contents around a shaft where it passes through a barrier, intended to prevent the passage of a fluid past the barrier, used for example around a ship’s propeller shaft or around a tap, valve or faucet.

Examples

  • Descartes thought that the mind and body were joined in the pineal gland.

  • Hypophysitis is an inflammation of the pituitary gland.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1

Also pronounced

  • [ɡleːnd] ~ [ɡlɛeːnd]
  • [ɡleənd] ~ [ɡlɛənd]

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A secretory structure on the surface of an organ.

  2. A specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin in the human or animal body that synthesizes a chemical substance, such as hormones or breast milk, and releases it, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).

  3. A structure resembling a gland, especially a lymph node.

More examples

In context

  • There's something wrong with her thyroid gland.

  • The gland of a tap/faucet is usually packed with string which has been soaked in tallow or similar grease.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The sweat blank releases liquid to cool your body when you are hot.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Late 17th century borrowing from French glande, alteration of Old French glandre, from Latin glandulae (“throat glands, tonsils”), plural of glandula (“a little acorn”), from glāns (“an acorn”) + -ula (diminutive nominal suffix).