First recorded in 1960–65.
Comes from petro-, a combining form meaning \"rock,\" and ichor, which in classical mythology means “ethereal fluid flowing in the veins of the gods.”
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF PETRICHOR\r\n

The desert landscape was quickly transformed as petrichor filled the air after a long-awaited rainstorm.
As the storm passed, leaving behind puddles and damp earth, the sweet petrichor lingered like a fond memory.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Submit now!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/NEW2016/petrichor_000.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"noun","data":"a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/petrichor_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"tGHjjIGO5zvBx8IG15oDi","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"para-thor-mone","entry":"Para-thor-mone"},{"slug":"parathyroid","entry":"parathyroid"},{"slug":"parathyroidectomy","entry":"parathyroidectomy"},{"slug":"parathyroid-extract","entry":"parathyroid extract"},{"slug":"parathyroid-gland","entry":"parathyroid gland"}],"after":[{"slug":"parathyroid-hormone","entry":"parathyroid hormone"},{"slug":"para-toluidine","entry":"para-toluidine"},{"slug":"paratonic","entry":"paratonic"},{"slug":"paratransit","entry":"paratransit"},{"slug":"paratroop","entry":"paratroop"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"parathyroid--glands"},"requestId":"NtYm2lpK-Di0boBU8aT62","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"parathyroid--glands"},"requestId":"lrTR46BgPWokC-DsXMk_p","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CulturalEntry","definitions":[{"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"A set of four small\"}, {\"type\": \"cross_reference\", \"text\": \"glands\", \"slug\": \"glands\"}, {\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"on the undersurface of the\"}, {\"type\": \"cross_reference\", \"text\": \"thyroid gland\", \"slug\": \"thyroid-gland\"}, {\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"that function in the\"}, {\"type\": \"cross_reference\", \"text\": \"endocrine system\", \"slug\": \"endocrine-system\"}, {\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \". The parathyroid glands secrete a\"}, {\"type\": \"cross_reference\", \"text\": \"hormone\", \"slug\": \"hormone\"}, {\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"that regulates the\"}, {\"type\": \"cross_reference\", \"text\": \"metabolism\", \"slug\": \"metabolism\"}, {\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"of calcium and phosphorus.\"}]"}],"headword":{"displayForm":"parathyroid glands","slug":"parathyroid-glands"},"notes":[]}],"url":"parathyroid-glands"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"parathyroid--glands"},"requestId":"1sYBFuyxxTxLT6X5QEnxE","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"parathyroid--glands","displayForm":"parathyroid glands","canonicalSlug":"parathyroid--glands","content":[{"source":"cultural","entries":[{"id":"parathyroidg","type":"normal","entry":"parathyroid glands","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":[],"homograph":0,"pronunciation":{"audio":null,"spell":["(par-uh-theye-royd)"],"ipa":null},"predefinitionContent":null,"contentBlocks":[{"title":null,"content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":"A set of four small glands on the undersurface of the thyroid gland that function in the endocrine system. The parathyroid glands secrete a hormone that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus."}]}],"supplementaryNotes":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":113864,"index-rank-01":["parathyroid glands"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":[],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":[],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":["parathyroid-glands"],"tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"parathyroid--glands"},"requestId":"24WlwpbggcIGnnZ3UJ9_E","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["spare the rod","pothered","protrude","are authority","procured","prorate","prepared","pressured","pro cured","pro-cured","more authored","priority","purebred","pre pared","pre-pared","preferred","proffered","proofread","pro rate","pro-rate","pro rata"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"spare the rod","slug":"spare%20the%20rod"},{"displayForm":"pothered","slug":"pothered"},{"displayForm":"protrude","slug":"protrude"},{"displayForm":"are authority","slug":"are%20authority"},{"displayForm":"procured","slug":"procured"},{"displayForm":"prorate","slug":"prorate"},{"displayForm":"prepared","slug":"prepared"},{"displayForm":"pressured","slug":"pressured"},{"displayForm":"pro cured","slug":"pro%20cured"},{"displayForm":"pro-cured","slug":"pro-cured"},{"displayForm":"more authored","slug":"more%20authored"},{"displayForm":"priority","slug":"priority"},{"displayForm":"purebred","slug":"purebred"},{"displayForm":"pre pared","slug":"pre%20pared"},{"displayForm":"pre-pared","slug":"pre-pared"},{"displayForm":"preferred","slug":"preferred"},{"displayForm":"proffered","slug":"proffered"},{"displayForm":"proofread","slug":"proofread"},{"displayForm":"pro rate","slug":"pro%20rate"},{"displayForm":"pro-rate","slug":"pro-rate"},{"displayForm":"pro rata","slug":"pro%20rata"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"parathyroid--glands"},"requestId":"ttDYZprhu_Ib6tFbSzJ47","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

parathyroid glands

Word of the Day