Real Dictionary

gland
countable noun: A gland is an organ in the body which produces chemical substances for the body to use or get rid of.

gland in American English 1
any organ or specialized group of cells that produces secretions, as insulin or bile, or excretions, as urine: some glands, as the liver and kidneys, have ducts that empty into an organ: the ductless (or endocrine) glands, as the thyroid and adrenals, sec
noun: a cell, group of cells, or organ producing a secretion

gland in American English 2
a movable part that compresses the packing in a stuffing box
noun: a sleeve within a stuffing box, fitted over a shaft or valve stem and tightened against compressible packing in such a way as to prevent leakage of fluid while allowing the shaft or stem to move; lantern ring

gland in British English 1
noun: a cell or organ in humans and other animals that synthesizes chemical substances and secretes them for the body to use or eliminate, either through a duct (exocrine gland) or directly into the bloodstream (endocrine gland)

gland in British English 2
noun: a device that prevents leakage of fluid along a rotating shaft or reciprocating rod passing through a boundary between areas of high and low pressure. It often consists of a flanged metal sleeve bedding into a stuffing box

gland in Mechanical Engineering
noun: A gland is a device that stops a fluid leaking along a rotating shaft or reciprocating rod passing through a boundary between areas of high and low pressure.