noun
pancreas
PANGK-reers
noun
1
A gland behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin.
"The pancreas releases insulin to help regulate blood sugar levels."
How to Use Pancreas
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe organ that helps digest food and controls blood sugar through insulin.
Common pairings
pancreas produces insulin
pancreatic cancer
Word Forms
pancreases plural, pancreata plural
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The _____ releases insulin to help regulate blood sugar levels.
Etymology
From Greek pankreas, literally "all flesh" (pan- "all" + kreas "flesh"), likely so named because the organ appeared to be made entirely of soft tissue with no bone or cartilage.