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Synonyms

liver

1 American  
[liv-er] / ˈlɪv ər /

noun

  1. Anatomy. a large, reddish-brown, glandular organ located in the upper right side of the abdominal cavity, divided by fissures into five lobes and functioning in the secretion of bile and various metabolic processes.

  2. an organ in other animals similar to the human liver, often used as food.

  3. a diseased condition of the liver; biliousness.

    a touch of liver.

  4. a reddish-brown color.

  5. a rubberlike, irreversible thickening suspension occurring in paint, ink, etc., due to a chemical reaction between a colloidal pigment and a vehicle or as a result of polymerization of the vehicle.


adjective

  1. of the color of liver.

verb (used without object)

  1. (of paint, ink, etc.) to undergo irreversible thickening.

liver 2 American  
[liv-er] / ˈlɪv ər /

noun

  1. a person who lives in a manner specified.

    an extravagant liver.

  2. a dweller or resident; inhabitant.


liver 3 American  
[lahy-ver] / ˈlaɪ vər /

adjective

  1. comparative of live.


liver 1 British  
/ ˈlɪvə /

noun

  1. a person who lives in a specified way

    a fast liver

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

liver 2 British  
/ ˈlɪvə /

noun

  1. a multilobed highly vascular reddish-brown glandular organ occupying most of the upper right part of the human abdominal cavity immediately below the diaphragm. It secretes bile, stores glycogen, detoxifies certain poisons, and plays an important part in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat, helping to maintain a correct balance of nutrients

  2. the corresponding organ in animals

  3. the liver of certain animals used as food

  4. a reddish-brown colour, sometimes with a greyish tinge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

liver Scientific  
/ lĭv′ər /
  1. A large glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrate animals that is essential to many metabolic processes. The liver secretes bile, stores fat and sugar as reserve energy sources, converts harmful substances to less toxic forms, and regulates the amount of blood in the body.

  2. A similar organ of invertebrate animals.


liver Cultural  
  1. A large organ, located on the right side of the abdomen and protected by the lower rib cage, that produces bile and blood proteins, stores vitamins for later release into the bloodstream, removes toxins (including alcohol) from the blood, breaks down old red blood cells, and helps maintain levels of blood sugar in the body.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of liver1

First recorded before 900; Middle English liver(e), liverre, Old English lifer(e), cognate with Dutch lever, German Leber, Old Norse lifr; further origin uncertain; perhaps akin to Greek liparós “fat, gleaming, fruitful”

Origin of liver2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; see origin at live 1, -er 1


Explanation

Your liver is an internal organ that does the important job of filtering toxins out of blood as it flows from your digestive tract to the rest of your body. All vertebrates (animals with spines) have a liver. In humans, the liver sits in the upper right-hand side of the abdominal cavity, nestled just above the stomach. Livers are powerful organs, able to break down harmful substances and remove them from your system, produce bile that allows you to digest fat, help your blot to clot, and much more. Many people consider the livers of certain animals to be a delicious delicacy.

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Vocabulary lists containing liver

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

These findings suggest that DT-109 could eventually have applications in treating both liver and cardiovascular conditions, an important possibility because metabolic disorders often affect multiple organs.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

By targeting this connection, DT-109 may offer a way to address some of the processes driving liver inflammation rather than focusing exclusively on damage that has already occurred.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

These changes helped strengthen the intestinal lining, limiting the movement of harmful microbial substances into the body and reducing their potential to damage the liver.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

If future human studies confirm the benefits seen in animals, DT-109 could offer a new therapeutic option for patients with severe fatty liver disease while potentially addressing cardiovascular complications as well.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

He announced to the other doctors that he felt two fractured ribs and a one-inch-deep cut in the liver.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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