noun
pituitary
pih-TYOO-iht-ree
Pituitary (noun) means a small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands. Example: “The pituitary gland releases the hormone that triggers a growth spurt in teenagers.”
noun
1
A small gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones controlling growth, metabolism, and other glands.
"The pituitary gland releases the hormone that triggers a growth spurt in teenagers."
"Doctors ran tests to check whether her pituitary was producing enough thyroid-stimulating hormone."
adj
1
Relating to this gland.
"A pituitary tumor can throw the body's entire hormone balance off."
How to use pituitary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe master gland at the base of the brain that tells other glands (thyroid, adrenal, ovaries/testes) how much hormone to make.
Common pairings
pituitary gland
pituitary tumor
pituitary hormone
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Word forms
- Plural
- pituitaries
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The _____ gland releases the hormone that triggers a growth spurt in teenagers.
Etymology
From Latin pituitarius, "mucous," because early anatomists wrongly believed the gland's job was to drain mucus to the nose.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for pituitary
See all rhymes for 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.
