gland 1  (gl ănd)
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n.1. a. Any of various organs or cell groups, such as the adrenal glands and the salivary glands, that are of endothelial origin and secrete a substance that is used or excreted by the body. b. Any of various organs, such as lymph nodes, that resemble true glands but perform a nonsecretory function. 2. 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.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gland 2  (gl ănd)
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n. A device, such as the outer sleeve of a stuffing box, designed to prevent a fluid from leaking past a moving machine part.
[Perhaps akin to Scots glams, jaws of a vise, pincers, probably from variant of CLAM2.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
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