gland
Plural: glands
Noun
- An organ that secretes specific substances.
- any of various organs that synthesize substances needed by the body and release it through ducts or directly into the bloodstream
- 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).
- 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).
- A structure resembling a gland, especially a lymph node.
- A secretory structure on the surface of an organ.
- 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
- He felt a gland of anxiety secrete as his opponent laid down a 100-point word.
Origin / 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).
Scrabble Score: 7
gland: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordgland: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gland: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 10
gland: valid Words With Friends Word