pituitary gland

UK: /pɪˈtjuːɪtəriglænd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

piˈtu•i•tar•y ˌgland, n. [countable]

1. Anatomy a small, cherry-shaped gland attached to the base of the brain, affecting all functions regarding hormones in the body:
   The pituitary gland controls sexual development and growth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pitu′itary gland′, [Anat.]

1. Anatomy a small, somewhat cherry-shaped double structure attached by a stalk to the base of the brain and constituting the master endocrine gland affecting all hormonal functions in the body, consisting of an anterior region (anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis) that develops embryonically from the roof of the mouth and that secretes growth hormone, LH, FSH, ACTH, TSH, and MSH, a posterior region (posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis) that develops from the back of the forebrain and that secretes the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin, and an intermediate part (pars intermedia,) derived from the anterior region but joined to the posterior region, that secretes the hormone MSH in lower vertebrates. Also called hypophysis. See diag. under brain. 

• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pituitary gland, pituitary body noun

1. the master endocrine gland, attached by a stalk to the base of the brain. Its two lobes (the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis) secrete hormones affecting skeletal growth, development of the sex glands, and the functioning of the other endocrine glands