Word
gland
US/ˈɡɫænd/
UK/ɡlˈænd/
Definitions
01biological organ
n. a part of the body that creates and sends out chemicals, such as hormones, sweat, or saliva.
n. an organ or group of cells that synthesizes chemical substances for release into the bloodstream or onto a body surface.
“The thyroid gland in your neck helps control how your body uses energy.”
“The endocrine system consists of several glands that secrete hormones directly into the circulatory system to regulate distant target organs.”
Technical
Usage
Often used with specific names like 'adrenal gland', 'sweat gland', or 'lymph gland'.
02plant structure
n. a small part on the surface of a plant that produces substances like oil or nectar.
n. a secretory hair or cell on the surface of a plant organ.
“The leaves of the plant are covered in tiny glands that produce a sticky liquid.”
“Microscopic examination revealed specialized glands on the trichomes that produce the plant's characteristic aromatic oils.”
Technical
Synonyms
03mechanical seal
n. a part in a machine that stops liquid from leaking out around a moving rod or shaft.
n. a device or stuffing box used to seal a rotating or reciprocating shaft against fluid leakage.
“The plumber tightened the gland on the tap to stop it from dripping.”
“The engineer inspected the packing gland to ensure that the propeller shaft remained watertight during high-speed operation.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“The rodents have scent glands on their feet and trample on their droppings to mark their territory.” “Female orb-weaver spiders can possess multiple types of silk-producing or silk-associated glands , each linked to a different task.” Etymology
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).
Early 19th century, probably from Scots glam (“vice, clamp”), probably from a variant of clam (“clam; clamp, vise”). Related to clamp.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/gland