gland

1
[ gland ]
/ glænd /

noun

Anatomy.
  1. a cell, group of cells, or organ producing a secretion.
  2. any of various organs or structures resembling the shape but not the function of true glands.
Botany. a secreting organ or structure.

Origin of gland

1
1685–95; < Latin gland- (stem of glāns acorn); compare Italian ghianda

OTHER WORDS FROM gland

gland·less, adjective gland·like, adjective

Words nearby gland

glamping , glance, glanceable, glancing, glancing angle, gland, gland of auditory tube, gland of moll, glandered, glanders, glandilemma

Definition for gland (2 of 2)

gland 2
[ gland ]
/ glænd /

noun Machinery.

a sleeve within a stuffing box, fitted over a shaft or valve stem and tightened against compressible packing in such a way as to prevent leakage of fluid while allowing the shaft or stem to move; lantern ring.
stuffing box.

Origin of gland

2
First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Example sentences from the Web for gland

British Dictionary definitions for gland (1 of 2)

gland 1
/ (ɡlænd) /

noun

a cell or organ in man and other animals that synthesizes chemical substances and secretes them for the body to use or eliminate, either through a duct (exocrine gland) or directly into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) See also exocrine gland, endocrine gland
a structure, such as a lymph node, that resembles a gland in form
a cell or organ in plants that synthesizes and secretes a particular substance

Other words from gland

Related adjective: adenoid

Derived forms of gland

glandlike, adjective

Word Origin for gland

C17: from Latin glāns acorn

British Dictionary definitions for gland (2 of 2)

gland 2
/ (ɡlænd) /

noun

a device that prevents leakage of fluid along a rotating shaft or reciprocating rod passing through a boundary between areas of high and low pressure. It often consists of a flanged metal sleeve bedding into a stuffing box

Word Origin for gland

C19: of unknown origin

Medical definitions for gland

gland
[ glănd ]

n.

A cell, a group of cells, or an organ that produces a secretion for use in or for elimination from the body.
Any of various organs, such as lymph nodes, that resemble true glands but perform a nonsecretory function.

Scientific definitions for gland

gland
[ glănd ]

An organ or group of specialized cells in the body that produces and secretes a specific substance, such as a hormone. See also endocrine gland exocrine gland.