kid·ney
| \ ˈkid-nē
\
\
plural kidneys
Definition of kidney
1a
: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity from which it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder
b
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
2
: the kidney of an animal eaten as food
3
: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament
a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police— Paula Lecler
Synonyms for kidney
Synonyms
- breed,
- class,
- description,
- feather,
- genre,
- ilk,
- kind,
- like,
- manner,
- nature,
- order,
- sort,
- species,
- strain,
- stripe,
- type,
- variety
Learn More About kidney
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
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Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Oct. 8
The words that defined the week ending October 8th, 2021
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Last Updated
9 May 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 17 May. 2022.
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More Definitions for kidney
kidney
noun
kid·ney
| \ ˈkid-nē
\
\
plural kidneys
Kids Definition of kidney
: either of a pair of organs near the backbone that give off waste from the body in the form of urine and in humans are bean-shaped
kidney
noun
kid·ney
| \ ˈkid-nē
\
\
plural kidneys
Medical Definition of kidney
1
: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into the renal pelvis whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder — compare mesonephros, metanephros, pronephros
2
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
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Time Traveler for kidney
The first known use of kidney was in the 14th century
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