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glands

 - 9 dictionary results

gland

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

Origin:
1685–95; < L gland- (s. of glāns acorn); cf. It ghianda


glandless, adjective
glandlike, adjective

gland

2[gland]
–noun Machinery.
1. 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.
2. stuffing box.

Origin:
1830–40; orig. uncert.

stuffing box

–noun Machinery.
a device for preventing leakage of gases or liquids along a moving rod or shaft at the point at which it leaves a cylinder, tank, ship hull, etc.
Also called gland.


Origin:
1790–1800
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To glands
gland 1   (glānd)   
n.  
    1. A cell, a group of cells, or an organ that produces a secretion for use elsewhere in the body or in a body cavity or for elimination from the body.

    2. Any of various organs, such as lymph nodes, that resemble true glands but perform a nonsecretory function.

  1. Botany An organ or a structure that secretes a substance.


[French glande, from Old French glandre, alteration of Latin glandula, diminutive of glāns, gland-, acorn.]
gland 2   (glānd)   
n.  A device, such as the outer sleeve of a stuffing box, designed to prevent a fluid from leaking past a moving machine part.

[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

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).

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gland 
1692, from L. glandula "gland of the throat, tonsil," dim. of glans (gen. glandis) "acorn," from PIE base *gwel- "acorn, oak" (cf. Gk. balanos, Armenian kalin, O.C.S. zelodi "acorn;" Lith. gile "oak").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: gland
Pronunciation: 'gland
Function: noun
1 : a cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin that selectively removes materialsfrom the blood, concentrates or alters them, and secretes them for further use in the body or for elimination from the body
2 : any of various animal structures (as a lymph node)suggestive of glands though not secretory in function —gland·less /'glan-dl&s/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

gland (glānd)
n.

  1. A cell, a group of cells, or an organ that produces a secretion for use in or for elimination from the body.

  2. Any of various organs, such as lymph nodes, that resemble true glands but perform a nonsecretory function.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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