lung

American  

[luhng] / lʌŋ /

noun

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

• half-lunged adjective
• lunged adjective

Etymology

Origin of lung

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

Example Sentences

Having lived with a respiratory illness since the age of two, his health deteriorated and he was told he needed a double lung transplant.

From BBC

But as the primary caregiver for both her mother and her father—who is 81 and has end-stage lung cancer—she’s learned that she feels better when truthful about struggling.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because of their size, they can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

From Science Daily

Royal Papworth credited Sir Terence with helping it achieve an international reputation for heart transplantation and, later, heart-lung and lung transplants.

From BBC

In a separate study in Cell Reports, the team mapped the crystal structure of another group of proteins that is essential in tuft cell lung cancer.

From Science Daily