| 释义 |
thy·mus
I. \ˈthīməs\ noun
also thymus gland
(plural thymus·es \-məsə̇z\ ; or thy·mi \-ˌmī\)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek thymos warty excrescence, thymus gland
: a glandular structure largely of lymphoid tissue that is present in the young of most vertebrates, arises from the epithelium of one or more embryonic branchial clefts, lies typically in the upper anterior part of the chest or at the base of the neck, tends to become vestigial in the adult, and is held to play a major role in cellular immunological responses — see sweetbread
II. noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek thymos, thymon thyme — more at thyme
: a large genus of Old World mints having small entire leaves and clustered purple 2-lipped flowers — see thyme |