morgue

[ mawrg ]

/ mɔrg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR morgue ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a place in which bodies are kept, especially the bodies of victims of violence or accidents, pending identification or burial.

a reference file of old clippings, mats, books, etc., in a newspaper office.

the room containing such a reference file.

any place, as a room or file, where records, information, or objects are kept for unexpected but possible future use.

such records, information, or objects.

Nearby words

morganton, morgantown, morgen, morgenthau, morgenthau, henry, morgue, mori, moria, moriah, moribund, morini

Origin of morgue

1815–25; < French; name of building in Paris housing unidentified dead bodies

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for morgue

So far, the mystery man in the morgue has not been identified, and neither has Mr. Douli.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another incident, in January, involved a Kenyan man, Paul Mutora, who woke up in the morgue 15 hours after being pronounced dead.
What It’s Like to Wake Up Dead|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Afterwards, the bodies were taken to the morgue to positively identify them.
The Shocking Death of Miss Honduras|Romina Ruiz-Goiriena|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He said he had been commanded to grab every journalist showing up at the morgue.
I Was Snatched at the MH17 ‘Morgue’|Anna Nemtsova|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Two gunmen waiting outside the morgue ordered us to follow them as soon as we got out of our taxi.
I Was Snatched at the MH17 ‘Morgue’|Anna Nemtsova|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The morgue attendant lifted up one small arm with a gloved hand and played the hose over the thin biceps.
Nor Iron Bars a Cage....|Gordon Randall Garrett
It strikes me, jokers are consolidating in the Morgue to-day.
Mated from the Morgue|John Augustus O'Shea
These facts are usually obtained from the file of biographies—called the morgue—which most newspapers keep.
Newspaper Reporting and Correspondence|Grant Milnor Hyde
He said, "Furthermore, that's on the street right now—this is a newspaper, not a morgue!"
Cue for Quiet|Thomas L. Sherred
The body was taken from the morgue and was buried from Mr. Dalton's house, Lizzie and Mason being the chief mourners.
The Bradys Beyond Their Depth|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for morgue (1 of 2)

morgue

/ (mɔːɡ) /

noun

another word for mortuary (def. 1)

informal a room or file containing clippings, files, etc, used for reference in a newspaper

Word Origin for morgue

C19: from French la Morgue, a Paris mortuary

British Dictionary definitions for morgue (2 of 2)

morgue

/ French (mɔrɡ) /

noun

superiority; haughtiness

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

Medicine definitions for morgue

morgue

[ môrg ]

n.

A place in which dead bodies are temporarily kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made.