Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
glamorize
glamorous
glamour
glamourize
glamourous
glance
glance off
glancing
gland (1)
gland (2)
glanders
glandes
glandular
glandular fever
glandule
glandulous
glans
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "gland" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

gland (1)

gland [ gland ] (plural glands)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. secreting cell mass: in animals, a cell or group of cells that secretes a specific substance. Endocrine glands secrete directly into the bloodstream, while exocrine glands secrete through ducts into a cavity or to the surface of the body.

2. organ like gland: an anatomical structure that resembles a gland, especially a lymph node ( not in technical usage )

3. plant organ: in plants, a cell or group of cells that secrete substances, e.g. a nectary gland

[Late 17th century. Via French< Latin glandula "tonsil" < glans "acorn"]

gland·less adjective
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft