thyroid
|thy-roid|
/ˈθaɪrɔɪd/
shield-shaped (neck gland)
Etymology
'thyroid' originates from New Latin 'thyreoideus', ultimately from Greek 'thyreoeidēs', where 'thyreos' meant 'shield' and '-oeidēs' meant 'like'.
'thyreoeidēs' (Greek) passed into New Latin as 'thyreoideus' and then into English medical usage in the 18th–19th centuries as 'thyroid', originally describing a shield-shaped structure (the cartilage) and later the gland.
Initially, it meant 'shield-shaped' (referring especially to the thyroid cartilage); over time it came to refer primarily to the gland in the neck and things related to it (hormones, conditions).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the endocrine gland in the neck that produces thyroid hormones (regulates metabolism).
The doctor checked her thyroid after she reported sudden weight gain.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a disorder or abnormality of the thyroid gland (used informally: 'having a thyroid').
He was diagnosed with a thyroid that was underactive.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the thyroid cartilage of the larynx (the 'Adam's apple' area).
The surgeon examined the thyroid before the laryngeal procedure.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the thyroid gland or its hormones.
She is being treated for a thyroid condition.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/25 21:08