lung

noun

ˈləŋ 

1

a

: one of the usually paired compound saccular thoracic organs that constitute the basic respiratory organs of an air-breathing vertebrate

b

: any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates

2

a

: a device enabling individuals abandoning a submarine to rise to the surface

b

: a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lung : respirator compare iron lung

lungful

ˈləŋ-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of lung in a Sentence

He filled his lungs with the clean. fresh air.

Recent Examples on the Web

The phase two trial followed 187 people with non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer or colorectal cancer and high levels of a key driver of cachexia called growth differentiation factor 15, or GDF-15. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2024

Tobacco use is associated with 17 different types of cancer in addition to lung cancer. —Cathy J. Bradley, The Denver Post, 13 Sep. 2024

Exposure to wildfire smoke increases the risk of stroke, heart and respiratory diseases, lung cancer and early death. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2024

In hospitals, it's commonly used in emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units to monitor patients, especially those with conditions affecting the heart and lungs. —Julie Scott, Msn, Anp-Bc, Aocnp, Verywell Health, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lunge, from Old English lungen; akin to Old High German lungun lung, līhti light in weight — more at light

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lung

• black lung
• book lung
• brown lung
• farmer's lung
• heart-lung machine
• iron lung
• small-cell lung cancer

Kids Definition

lung

noun

ˈləŋ 

1

a

: one of the usually paired organs forming the special breathing structure of vertebrates that breathe air

b

: any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates

2

: a device (as an iron lung) to promote breathing and make it easier

Medical Definition

lung

noun

ˈləŋ 

1

a

: one of the usually two compound saccular organs that constitute the basic respiratory organ of air-breathing vertebrates, that normally occupy the entire lateral parts of the thorax and consist essentially of an inverted tree of intricately branched bronchioles communicating with thin-walled terminal alveoli swathed in a network of delicate capillaries where the actual gaseous exchange of respiration takes place, and that in humans are somewhat flattened with a broad base resting against the diaphragm and have the right lung divided into three lobes and the left into two lobes

b

: any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates

2

: a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lungs : respirator see iron lung

lunged adjective