sweat gland
C1Technical/Medical, Scientific, Everyday (in health/biology contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A small tubular structure in the skin that produces sweat.
Any of the exocrine glands in the skin that secrete perspiration for thermoregulation and waste excretion; sometimes used metaphorically to refer to sources of effort or anxiety.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun functioning as a single lexical unit. Refers specifically to anatomical structures. The plural 'sweat glands' is more common in general usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both varieties use 'sweat gland'. British English may occasionally use 'sudoriferous gland' in very technical contexts, but this is rare.
Connotations
Neutral anatomical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical/biological contexts in both UK and US English. Slightly more frequent in American everyday health discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The sweat gland [verbs: secretes/produces/releases] sweat.Sweat glands are [located/found] in the dermis.[Adjective: Eccrine/Apocrine] sweat glands [function/differ].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “work up a sweat (related conceptually)”
- “blood, sweat and tears (conceptual connection to effort)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for deodorants or medical equipment.
Academic
Common in biology, medicine, physiology, and anatomy textbooks/research.
Everyday
Used in health conversations, especially regarding hygiene, overheating, or medical conditions.
Technical
Standard term in dermatology, endocrinology, and human biology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The sweat-gland distribution varies across the body.
- It was a sweat-gland-related issue.
American English
- Sweat-gland activity increases in heat.
- He has a sweat-gland disorder.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dogs have sweat glands in their paws.
- When you are hot, your sweat glands work.
- The doctor said the infection was in a sweat gland.
- Deodorant helps control sweat gland odour.
- Eccrine sweat glands are responsible for thermoregulation.
- Blocked sweat glands can lead to painful cysts.
- The pathophysiology involves the overstimulation of apocrine sweat glands.
- Research focuses on modulating sweat gland secretion pharmacologically.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SWEAT comes from GLANDs. 'Sweat' + 'Gland' = the gland that makes sweat.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A MACHINE (glands as components/factories); EFFORT/ANXIETY IS HEAT/PERSPIRATION (e.g., 'sweating over a deadline').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'потная железа' – use standard 'потовая железа'.
- Do not confuse with 'сальная железа' (sebaceous gland).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sweet gland'.
- Using as a verb (*'I sweat gland when I exercise').
- Confusing singular/plural: 'a sweat glands' is incorrect.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of most sweat glands?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'sudoriferous gland' is the more technical Latin-derived synonym, but 'sweat gland' is far more common in general and medical English.
An average adult has between 2 to 4 million sweat glands distributed across the skin, with the highest density on the palms and soles.
Yes, blockages (often causing miliaria or 'heat rash') usually resolve with cooling, dryness, and sometimes topical treatments. Severe blockages may need medical attention.
While 'a sweat gland' is grammatically correct when referring to one unit, the term is most frequently used in the plural ('sweat glands') as we typically refer to them collectively.