thymus
noun
thy·mus
| \ ˈthī-məs
\
\
variants:
or thymus gland
plural thymuses
also thymi\ ˈthī-ˌmī
\
\
Definition of thymus
: a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions especially in cell-mediated immunity by being the site where T cells develop, is present in the young of most vertebrates typically in the upper anterior chest or at the base of the neck, and gradually decreases in size and activity after puberty
Examples of thymus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Miller, working at the University of London in the late 1950s and 1960s, identified a population of immune cells that develop in the thymus gland of mice—called T lymphocytes or T cells. — Ewen Callaway, Scientific American, "Immune-Cell Pioneers Win Prestigious Lasker Medical Award," 10 Sep. 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019 Opponents, however, say that newer methods, including the use of thymus tissue from newborn infants who undergo heart surgeries, appear promising. — oregonlive.com, "Donald Trump ends federal funding of research using fetal tissue," 6 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thymus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for thymus
thymus
noun
thy·mus
| \ ˈthī-məs
\
\
variants:
or thymus gland
plural thymuses
also thymi\ -ˌmī
\
\
Medical Definition of thymus
: a glandular structure of largely lymphoid tissue that functions in cell-mediated immunity by being the site where T cells develop, that is present in the young of most vertebrates typically in the upper anterior chest or at the base of the neck, that arises from the epithelium of one or more embryonic branchial clefts, and that gradually decreases in size and activity after puberty