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Meaning & use

lymph gland

noun·Academicmedical

Last updated

UK/ˈlɪmf ɡlænd/
US/ˈlɪmf ɡlænd/

Meaning

  1. nouncountablemedical

    One of many small, bean-shaped structures in the body that filter lymph fluid and help the body fight infection.

    Grammar: Plural is lymph glands: swollen lymph glands in the neck.

    Patterns

    • a swollen lymph gland
    • lymph glands in the neck

    The doctor felt the swollen lymph glands in her neck.

    A lymph gland near the armpit can swell when there is an infection.

    Lymph glands trap germs and help the immune system respond.

Word forms

plurallymph glands

Common combinations

swollen lymph glands
Swollen lymph glands often mean the body is fighting an infection.
enlarged lymph gland
An enlarged lymph gland was found during the check-up.
lymph glands in the neck
The lymph glands in the neck were tender.
remove a lymph gland
Surgeons may remove a lymph gland to test it for disease.
tender lymph glands
Tender lymph glands are common with a cold.

Synonyms and how they differ

lymph node
Lymph node is the correct medical term, and lymph gland is the older or more casual way of saying it.
gland
Gland alone is vague; many people say swollen glands when they mean lymph nodes.

Word family

lymph noun
the clear fluid carried in the lymphatic system
lymphatic adjective
relating to lymph
lymphoma noun
a cancer of the lymph system
lymphocyte noun
a type of white blood cell

Commonly confused: lymph gland or salivary gland?

lymph gland vs salivary gland

A salivary gland makes saliva in the mouth, while a lymph gland is part of the immune system.

Practice

What is the main job of a lymph gland?

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