pituitary

[ pi-too-i-ter-ee, -tyoo- ]

noun

, plural pi·tu·i·tar·ies.

1. pituitary gland.
2. Pharmacology. the extract obtained from the lobes of the pituitary glands of hogs, sheep, and other domestic animals: the posterior lobe constituent increases blood pressure, contracts stomach muscles, etc., and the anterior lobe constituent regulates growth of the skeleton.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving the pituitary gland.
2. noting a physical type of abnormal size with overgrown extremities resulting from excessive pituitary secretion.

pituitary

/ -trɪ; pɪˈtjuːɪtərɪ /

noun

1. See pituitary gland pituitary extract

adjective

1. of or relating to the pituitary gland
2. archaic.
   of or relating to phlegm or mucus

Other Words From

• postpi·tui·tary adjective
• prepi·tui·tary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pituitary¹

First recorded in 1605–15, pituitary is from the Latin word pītuītārius pertaining to or secreting phlegm. See pip ², -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of pituitary¹

C17: from Late Latin pītuītārius slimy, from pītuīta phlegm

Example Sentences

He said a non-cancerous tumour had been found on his pituitary gland in his brain.

From BBC

Very rarely, the syndrome can be caused by the body producing too much cortisol, caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland in the brain or in one of the adrenal glands above the kidneys.

From BBC

There he became interested in a leading problem of the day — that of how the brain controls the pituitary gland, the maestro organ that cues production of the body’s other major glands.

From New York Times

“Events” is a generous way to describe the action, which mostly unfolds in and around the narrator Eve’s pituitary gland.

From New York Times

From birth, Jorgie was in and out of hospital with a pituitary gland problem that affected her development and made her face puffy.

From BBC