morgue

[mawrg]

noun

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

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

3. the room containing such a reference file.

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

5. such records, information, or objects.

morgue

¹

/ mɔːɡ /

noun

1. another word for mortuary

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

morgue

²

/ mɔrɡ /

noun

1. superiority; haughtiness

Word History and Origins

Origin of morgue¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of morgue¹

C19: from French la Morgue, a Paris mortuary

Example Sentences

She and Shawwaf walked a mile to the hospital morgue to pay their respects.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And if you’re playing as a medical examiner, be prepared to get a glimpse at a mini puppet morgue.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Activists say the city has become "an open-air morgue" for starved civilians.

Read more on Barron's

She is an expert on the dark histories of 19th Century morgues, but also photographs restaurant pizzas and plates of delicately arranged veg for magazines and food promotions.

Read more on BBC

Lungu died in South Africa in June, and his body is still in a morgue there because of the failure to reach agreement over his burial.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• funeral home