thyroid
/ˈθʌɪrɔɪd
/noun
1 (also thyroid gland) A large ductless gland in the neck which secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism: [as modifier]: thyroid function thyroid hormones...
- Thyroid medicine can replace the hormone your thyroid gland usually makes.
- When your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine, you develop hyperthyroidism.
- This happens because the thyroid gland is not functioning properly.
1.1 [mass noun] An extract prepared from the thyroid gland of animals and used in treating deficiency of thyroid hormones.He was horrified that I had been taking dried animal thyroid and put me on Synthroid....
- Any patient with suspected myxedema coma should be treated presumptively with thyroid hormone.
- A month later, after he started taking thyroid extract, the life of the patient had been transformed.
2 (also thyroid cartilage) A large cartilage of the larynx, a projection of which forms the Adam’s apple in humans.The epiglottis is a flap-like cartilage connected to the thyroid cartilage....
- The corpsman then palpated the thyroid cartilage and found the ‘Adam's apple’ or laryngeal prominence.
- The hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, and cricoid cartilages are located within the central portion of the neck.
Origin
Early 18th century (as an adjective): from Greek (khondros) thureoeidēs 'shield-shaped (cartilage)', from thureos 'oblong shield'.