English Explanatory Dictionary

pituitary

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of or relating to the pituitary gland.
  2. Mucous.
noun
  1. The pituitary gland.
  2. The pituitary gland together with the pituitary stalk.
  3. An extract from the pituitary gland.

Pronunciation

/pɪˈtjuːɪt(ə)ɹi/ /pɪˈt͡ʃuːɪt(ə)ɹi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pituitary.wav /pɪˈtuɪˌtɛɹi/

Word forms

pituitary pituitaries

Etymology

1610s, from Latin pītuītārius (“mucous”), from pītuīta (“clammy moisture, phlegm, mucus, slime”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *peyH- (“to be fat, swell”). Taken as the name for the gland because it was believed that it channeled mucus to the nose. As a noun by 1899.

Synonyms

pituital pituitous hypophysis

Derived words

adenopituitary anterior pituitary apituitarism dyspituitarism extrapituitary hypopituitary hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical intrapituitary neuropituitary nonpituitary panhyperpituitarism pituicyte pituitary body pituitaryless pituitary gland hypopituitarism hyperpituitarism hypothalamopituitary juxtapituitary
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