organ

or·gan

noun \ˈȯr-gən\

Definition of ORGAN

1

a archaic : any of various musical instruments; especially : wind instrument b (1) : a keyboard instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air and produce a variety of timbres —called also pipe organ (2) : reed organ (3) : an electronic keyboard instrument that approximates the sounds and resources of the pipe organ (4) : any of various similar cruder instruments

2

a : a differentiated structure (as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organism b : bodily parts performing a function or cooperating in an activity <the eyes and related structures that make up the visual organs>

3

: a subordinate group or organization that performs specialized functions <the various organs of government>

4

: periodical

Examples of ORGAN

1. the legislative organ of our government
2. <that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community>

Origin of ORGAN

Middle English, partly from Old English organa, from Latin organum, from Greek organon, literally, tool, instrument; partly from Anglo-French organe, from Latin organum; akin to Greek ergon work — more at work

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to ORGAN

Synonyms: book, bulletin, diurnal, gazette, mag, magazine, newspaper, journal, paper, periodical, rag, review, serial, zine

Related Words: annual, bimonthly, biweekly, daily, monthly, quarterly, semimonthly, semiweekly, triweekly, weekly, yearbook; digest, little magazine; fanzine; pictorial, slick; broadside, edition, extra, sheet, supplement, tab, tabloid; newsletter, newsmagazine, newsweekly

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Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Rhymes with ORGAN

gorgon, morgan