endocrine glandnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈen.də.krɪn ˌɡlænd/us/ˈen.də.krɪn ˌɡlænd/specializedany of the organs of the body, such as the pituitary gland or the ovaries, that produce and release hormones into the blood to be carried around the body
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Glands in the human body
- adrenal
- adrenal cortex
- adrenal gland
- adrenal medulla
- adrenocortical
- ductless gland
- gland
- lymph gland
- pancreas
- parathyroid
- parathyroid gland
- parotid
- pituitary gland
- prostate
- prostatic
- sebaceous gland
- sweat gland
- thymus
- thyreoid
- thyroid
Examples from literature
- They are called endocrine glands or organs, and their chemical contributions to the blood are known as hormones.