Lymphoid tissue located in the upper part of the throat behind the nose that helps fight infections in children. These tissues typically shrink during adolescence and may cause breathing or hearing problems when enlarged.
From Greek 'aden' meaning gland and 'eidos' meaning form or shape, coined in the 1860s. The name reflects their gland-like appearance, though they're actually lymphoid tissue rather than true glands.
Adenoids are like tonsils' hidden cousins - you can't see them by looking in the mouth, but they're doing the same job of filtering germs from the air we breathe. They're most prominent in kids aged 3-7, which is why 'adenoid face' (mouth breathing due to enlarged adenoids) is mainly a childhood issue!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.