pituitary

[ pi-too-i-ter-ee, -tyoo- ]
/ pɪˈtu ɪˌtɛr i, -ˈtyu- /

noun, plural pi·tu·i·tar·ies.

pituitary gland.
Pharmacology. the extract obtained from the lobes of the pituitary glands of hogs, sheep, and other domestic animals: the posterior lobe constituent increases blood pressure, contracts stomach muscles, etc., and the anterior lobe constituent regulates growth of the skeleton.

adjective

of, relating to, or involving the pituitary gland.
noting a physical type of abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from excessive pituitary secretion.

Origin of pituitary

First recorded in 1605–15, pituitary is from the Latin word pītuītārius pertaining to or secreting phlegm. See pip2, -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM pituitary

post·pi·tu·i·tar·y, adjective pre·pi·tu·i·tar·y, adjective

Words nearby pituitary

pittsburgh pneumonia, pittsfield, pituicyte, pituicytoma, pituitarism, pituitary, pituitary basophil adenoma, pituitary basophilism, pituitary body, pituitary cachexia, pituitary dwarfism

Example sentences from the Web for pituitary

British Dictionary definitions for pituitary

pituitary
/ (pɪˈtjuːɪtərɪ, -trɪ) /

noun plural -taries

See pituitary gland, pituitary extract

adjective

of or relating to the pituitary gland
archaic of or relating to phlegm or mucus

Word Origin for pituitary

C17: from Late Latin pītuītārius slimy, from pītuīta phlegm

Medical definitions for pituitary

pituitary
[ pĭ-tōō′ĭ-tĕr′ē ]

n.

The pituitary gland.
An extract from the anterior or posterior lobes of the pituitary gland, prepared for therapeutic use.

adj.

Of or relating to the pituitary gland.
Of or secreting phlegm or mucus; mucous.