lung

American  

[luhng] / lʌŋ /

noun

• lungs
  plural

1. either of the two saclike respiratory organs in the thorax of humans and the higher vertebrates.

2. an analogous organ in certain invertebrates, as arachnids or terrestrial gastropods.

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idioms

1. at the top of one's lungs, as loudly as possible; with full voice.

   The baby cried at the top of his lungs.

lung British  

/ lʌŋ /

noun

1. either one of a pair of spongy saclike respiratory organs within the thorax of higher vertebrates, which oxygenate the blood and remove its carbon dioxide

2. any similar or analogous organ in other vertebrates or in invertebrates

3. in one's loudest voice; yelling

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lung Scientific  

/ lŭng /

1. Either of two spongy organs in the chest of air-breathing vertebrate animals that serve as the organs of gas exchange. Blood flowing through the lungs picks up oxygen from inhaled air and releases carbon dioxide, which is exhaled. Air enters and leaves the lungs through the bronchial tubes.

2. A similar organ found in some invertebrates.

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lung More Idioms  

1. see at the top of one's lungs.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• half-lunged
  adjective
• lunged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lungs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lung

before 1000; Middle English lungen, Old English; cognate with German Lunge; akin to light ², lights

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Explanation

A lung is an internal organ that makes it possible for you to breathe. Your lungs remove carbon dioxide from your body while sending oxygen into your blood stream. All vertebrates — animals with a spinal column — have lungs. Humans have two of them, and they're what makes your chest rise and fall as you breathe in and out. They're also the organs that keep you breathing, and therefore alive. Lung, by way of the Old English lungen, comes from an Indo-European root that literally means "the light organ."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lung lungs

The lack of oxygen at high altitudes can cause adverse effects such as dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath among healthy people - which can cause complications for people with lung disease, studies show.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026

Every participant also had at least two chronic medical conditions, such as a history of cancer or lung disease.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

The visit also comes just weeks after Leo, who was diagnosed with cancer, had surgery to remove a tumor on his lung.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

That same year, actor Steve McQueen went to Mexico to get laetrile treatment for lung cancer.

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

His strengths as a cyclist—strong muscles, pain tolerance, and massive lung capacity—made him the ideal tunneler.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

He puts fresh oxygen into those old lungs and new soul into that crabbed old heart.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026

Their experiments included cells from the lungs, eyes and brain, along with miniature organ models grown in the laboratory.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

Since then, the Eagles and Hurts’s agent confirmed that he had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, or clots in his lungs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Initially, it was diagnosed as a superficial vein clot, and now it is a series of deep vein clots that have since traveled to Hurts’ lungs.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

Daniel yelled at the top of his lungs.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

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