What does "glandular" mean?
A food supplement made from glands.
Glandular
/ˈɡlan.djʊl.ə/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A food supplement made from glands.
- Grammar: glandular is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: acinous, acinus, adrenal, affectional.
- Useful contrasts: nonglandular, nonsecretory.
- Usage evidence: Inwardly the Second Men differed from the earlier species in that they had shed most of those primitive relics which had hampered the First Men more than was realized. Not only were they free of appendix, tonsils and other useless excrescences, but also their whole structure was more firmly knit into unity. Their chemical organization was such that their tissues were kept in better repair. Their teeth, though proportionately small and few, were almost completely immune from caries. Such was their glandular equipment that puberty did not begin till twenty; and not till they were fifty did they reach maturity. At about one hundred and ninety their powers began to fail, and after a few years of contemplative retirement they almost invariably died before true senility could begin.
How to use "glandular"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "glandular" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "glandular" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "glandular" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "glandular" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "glandular" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acinous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "glandular", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A food supplement made from glands.
"Then Mr. Rothschild states that there is a wealth of studies attesting to the beneficence of glandulars in the human diet, only to fall into the same error he lays on Dr. Holub: failing to cite a single one."
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to a gland or glands. not-comparable
"a glandular disorder"
- 2 Pertaining to a gland or glands.; Having the characteristics or function of a gland. not-comparable
- 3 Innate, inherent. not-comparable
"[…]the almost glandular Russian instinct for adventure and romance."
- 4 Physical, sexual. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 relating to or affecting or functioning as a gland wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Inwardly the Second Men differed from the earlier species in that they had shed most of those primitive relics which had hampered the First Men more than was realized. Not only were they free of appendix, tonsils and other useless excrescences, but also their whole structure was more firmly knit into unity. Their chemical organization was such that their tissues were kept in better repair. Their teeth, though proportionately small and few, were almost completely immune from caries. Such was their glandular equipment that puberty did not begin till twenty; and not till they were fifty did they reach maturity. At about one hundred and ninety their powers began to fail, and after a few years of contemplative retirement they almost invariably died before true senility could begin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "glandular"?
Common synonyms include: acinous, acinus, adrenal, affectional, affective, apocrine.
How do you use "glandular" in a sentence?
Inwardly the Second Men differed from the earlier species in that they had shed most of those primitive relics which had hampered the First Men more than was realized. Not only were they free of appendix, tonsils and other useless excrescences, but also their whole structure was more firmly knit into unity. Their chemical organization was such that their tissues were kept in better repair. Their teeth, though proportionately small and few, were almost completely immune from caries. Such was their glandular equipment that puberty did not begin till twenty; and not till they were fifty did they reach maturity. At about one hundred and ninety their powers began to fail, and after a few years of contemplative retirement they almost invariably died before true senility could begin.
How do you pronounce "glandular"?
Pronounced /ˈɡlan.djʊl.ə/.
Etymology
Mid 18th century borrowing from French glandulaire, from glandule (“small gland”) + -aire (“-ar, -ary”, adjectival suffix), from Latin glandulae (“glands of the throat”); equivalent to glandule + -ar.