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

Fagel has battled three forms of cancer, an autoimmune condition and PTSD – all certified by the National World Trade Center Health Program as tied to Ground Zero, and is currently operating with one kidney and one of two lungs functioning at 25%. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Born in Kansas City on March 30 at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Drajten, at 8 pounds, entered the world with a hole in his diaphragm, one that caused his stomach to be thrust up near his lungs, pushing his tiny heart to one side. — Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Sarcoidosis is a disease in which nodules form, most commonly, in the lymph nodes, lungs, bones and skin. — Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

This is when your doctor will pull out the stethoscope to listen to your lungs and pull out the tongue depressor to look at your mouth and throat. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for lung

• bling
• bung
• clung
• dung
• flung
• fung
• hung
• rung
• slung
• sprung
• strung
• stung

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