What is "parotid gland"

Parotid \Pa*rot"id\, a. [L. parotis, -idis, Gr. ?, ?; para` beside, near + ?, ?, the ear: cf. F. parotide. ] (Anat.)

1. Situated near the ear; -- applied especially to the salivary gland near the ear.

2. Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the parotid gland.

   Parotid gland (Anat.), one of the salivary glands situated just in front of or below the ear. It is the largest of the salivary glands in man, and its duct opens into the interior of the mouth opposite the second molar of the upper jaw.

n. (context anatomy English) Either of a pair of salivary gland located in front of, and below each ear in humans.

n. a large salivary gland that produces 50% of daytime saliva; in human beings it is located in front of and below each ear

The parotid gland is a major salivary gland in many animals. In humans, the two parotid glands are present on either side of the mouth and in front of both ears. They are the largest of the salivary glands. Each parotid is wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secretes saliva through the parotid duct into the mouth, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.

The word parotid (paraotic) literally means "beside the ear".