pituitary
3 synonyms for pituitary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pituitary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pituitary gland
pituitary tumor
pituitary hormone
Etymology
From Latin pituitarius, "mucous," because early anatomists wrongly believed the gland's job was to drain mucus to the nose.
Full origin of pituitary →Frequently asked questions
What does “pituitary” mean?
The word “pituitary” means a small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands. In plain terms, the master gland at the base of the brain that tells other glands (thyroid, adrenal, ovaries/testes) how much hormone to make.
How do you pronounce “pituitary”?
“Pituitary” is pronounced pih-TYOO-iht-ree (/pɪˈtuɪˌtɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “pituitary” in a sentence?
Here is “pituitary” used in a sentence: “The pituitary gland releases the hormone that triggers a growth spurt in teenagers.”
What part of speech is “pituitary”?
Depending on how it is used, “pituitary” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “pituitary” come from?
The word “pituitary” comes from Latin. From Latin pituitarius, "mucous," because early anatomists wrongly believed the gland's job was to drain mucus to the nose.
How many meanings does “pituitary” have?
“Pituitary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands.
