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 glands (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 glands

British Dictionary definitions for glands (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 glands (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 glands

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 glands

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.

Cultural definitions for glands

glands

Organs or groups of cells that take substances from the blood and change them chemically so that they can be secreted later for further use by the body. There are two kinds of glands: those that secrete their substances directly into the bloodstream (endocrine glands), and those that secrete their substances through channels or ducts (such as sweat glands and salivary glands).