/ ˈθaɪrɔɪd; NAmE / (also ˈthyroid gland ) noun
( anatomy ) a small organ at the front of the neck that produces hormones that control the way in which the body grows and functions
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (as an adjective): from Greek (khondros) thureoeidēs shield-shaped (cartilage), from thureos oblong shield.