organ

[ awr-guhn ]

/ ˈɔr gən /

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See synonyms for: organ / organs on Thesaurus.com

noun

Also called pipe organ. a musical instrument consisting of one or more sets of pipes sounded by means of compressed air, played by means of one or more keyboards, and capable of producing a wide range of musical effects.

any of various similar instruments, as a reed organ or an electronic organ.

a barrel organ or hand organ.

Biology. a grouping of tissues into a distinct structure, as a heart or kidney in animals or a leaf or stamen in plants, that performs a specialized task.

penis

a newspaper, magazine, or other means of communicating information, thoughts, or opinions, especially in behalf of some organization, political group, or the like.

an instrument or means, as of action or performance: This committee will be the chief organ of administration.

Archaic. any of various musical instruments, especially wind, instruments.

OTHER WORDS FOR organ

6 publication, journal, instrument, channel.

See synonyms for organ on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of organ

before 1000; Middle English: musical instrument, pipe organ, organ of the body, tool (<Medieval Latin, Latin organum mechanical device, instrument) <Greek órganon implement, tool, bodily organ, musical instrument, akin to érgonwork

OTHER WORDS FROM organ

in·ter·or·gan, adjectivemul·ti·or·gan, adjective

Words nearby organ

orfe, Orfeo ed Euridice, Orff, orfray, org, organ, organa, organdie, organdy, organelle, organelles

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use organ in a sentence

They would like someone’s brain-cell data safeguarded, just as our organs are.
New technology can get inside your head. Are you ready?|Laura Sanders|February 11, 2021|Science News For Students
The recipient is still one person, but their new organ has different genes.
How do you build a centaur?|Bethany Brookshire|February 10, 2021|Science News For Students
In our bodies, we have organs — structures that have specific jobs.
Scientists Say: Organelle|Bethany Brookshire|February 8, 2021|Science News For Students
Yul Kwon currently works at Google, but he’s been a lawyer, political organizer, government regulator, organ donation activist, and Survivor winner.
Yul Kwon (Part 2): “Hey, Do You Have Any Bright Ideas?” (People I (Mostly) Admire, Ep. 13)|Steven D. Levitt|February 6, 2021|Freakonomics

That process includes a mix of chemical activities that supports life in cells, organs and whole organisms.
Space travel may harm health by damaging cells’ powerhouses|Jack J. Lee|February 5, 2021|Science News For Students
The brain, also an organ, is particularly sensitive to the loss of oxygen.
What It’s Like to Wake Up Dead|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, the body would ultimately have rejected the organ transplant.
Jon Stewart and 'Meet The Press' Would Have Been One Unhappy Marriage|Lloyd Grove|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in Jersey City the fight goes on, with fabulous organ accompaniment.
6 Must-Read Stories of Blondie, Spies and Riotous Feminists: The Best of The Beast|The Daily Beast|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the film starts, the organ sinks back down below the stage where the musician can be heard and not seen.
How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso|Rich Goldstein|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To easily switch between sounds, the organ is outfitted with dozens of preset buttons like the kind found in old radios.
How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso|Rich Goldstein|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he forgot the stagnant town, the bald-headed man at the club window, the organ and "The Manola."
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
In the first case “I” stands for the person using it, and in the last case it means the organ of sight.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The primal rigidity of the straight line yields later on to the freedom of an organ.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Of course there had been no organ in this church before, or the worthy deacon might have known more about it.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
The flute, a component part of the organ, is one of the most ancient of musical instruments.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for organ

organ

/ (ˈɔːɡən) /

noun

Also called: pipe organ a large complex musical keyboard instrument in which sound is produced by means of a number of pipes arranged in sets or stops, supplied with air from a bellows. The largest instruments possess three or more manuals and one pedal keyboard and have the greatest range of any instrument
(as modifier)organ pipe; organ stop; organ loft

any instrument, such as a harmonium, in which sound is produced in this waySee also reed organ, harmonica

short for electric organ (def. 1a), electronic organ

a fully differentiated structural and functional unit, such as a kidney or a root, in an animal or plant

an agency or medium of communication, esp a periodical issued by a specialist group or party

an instrument with which something is done or accomplished

a euphemistic word for penis

Word Origin for organ

C13: from Old French organe, from Latin organum implement, from Greek organon tool; compare Greek ergein to work

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

Scientific definitions for organ

organ

[ ôr′gən ]

A distinct part of an organism that performs one or more specialized functions. Examples of organs are the eyes, ears, lungs, and heart of an animal, and the roots, stems, and leaves of a plant.

Cultural definitions for organ

organ

Part of a living thing, distinct from the other parts, that is adapted for a specific function. Organs are made up of tissues and are grouped into systems, such as the digestive system.

notes for organ

The brain, liver, and skin are organs.

organ

OTHER WORDS FOR organ

Origin of organ

OTHER WORDS FROM organ

Words nearby organ

Words related to organ

How to use organ in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for organ

Word Origin for organ

Scientific definitions for organ

Cultural definitions for organ

notes for organ