kidney
[kid-nee]
- Anatomy. either of a pair of bean-shaped organs in the back part of the abdominal cavity that form and excrete urine, regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, and act as endocrine glands.
- Zoology. a corresponding organ in other vertebrate animals or an organ of like function in invertebrates.
- the meat of an animal's kidney used as food.
- constitution or temperament: He was a quiet child, of a different kidney from his boisterous brothers.
- kind, sort, or class: He is only at ease with men of his own kidney.
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Origin of kidney
1275–1325; Middle English kidenei, kidenere (singular), kideneres, kideneren (plural); origin uncertain; perhaps a compound based either on nere (singular), neres (plural) kidney (Old English *nēore; compare Old High German nioro, Old Norse nȳra); or ei (singular), eiren (plural) egg1, Old English ǣg (singular), ǣgru (plural) (by association with the organ's shape); for the first element compare dial. kid pod (akin to cod2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for kidney
Contemporary Examples
The one with the fever and the rash and the kidney failure that eventually killed her?
In 2005, DOC paid $37,244 for one coronary bypass surgery and $32,897 for one kidney transplant surgery.
Seeing one is especially important if you have diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease, says Dubost.
Their app, Colorimetrix, is accurate enough to monitor conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections.
Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Steve Grossman passed a kidney stone during a debate Tuesday.
Historical Examples
Cover the pan closely, and let it stew till the kidney is tender.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Cover the fat of the kidney and the back with paper to prevent it from scorching.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
How comes it that one of his kidney should lend help to the Prelatist cause?'
Micah ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
I satisfied my friend, however, that the case was not one of that Kidney.
Put them into the pie-dish alternately with pieces of kidney.
The Skilful CookMary Harrison
kidney
- either of two bean-shaped organs at the back of the abdominal cavity in man, one on each side of the spinal column. They maintain water and electrolyte balance and filter waste products from the blood, which are excreted as urineRelated adjectives: nephritic, renal
- the corresponding organ in other animals
- the kidneys of certain animals used as food
- class, type, or disposition (esp in the phrases of the same or a different kidney)
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Word Origin
C14: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for kidney
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
kidney
(kĭd′nē)- Either of a pair of organs in the dorsal region of the vertebrate abdominal cavity, functioning to maintain proper water and electrolyte balance, regulate acid-base concentration, and filter the blood of metabolic wastes, which are then excreted as urine.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
kidney
[kĭd′nē]
- Either of a pair of organs that are located in the rear of the abdominal cavity in vertebrates. The kidneys regulate fluid balance in the body and filter out wastes from the blood in the form of urine. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. Wastes filtered from the blood by the nephrons drain into the ureters, muscular tubes that connect each kidney to the bladder. See also nephron.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.