lung

noun

\ ˈləŋ

Definition of lung

1a : 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

2a : 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

Other Words from lung Example Sentences Learn More about lung

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of lung in a Sentence

He filled his lungs with the clean. fresh air.

Recent Examples on the Web

Revenue from AstraZeneca’s oncology drugs, such as Tagrisso for lung cancer and Lynparza for ovarian cancer, increased 49% to $6 billion. — Denise Roland, WSJ, "AstraZeneca Turns a Corner After a Decade of Struggles," 14 Feb. 2019 Durant’s shoe line is named after his favorite aunt, who died of lung cancer in 2000, so any new release has a personal meaning to him. — Steve Reed, The Seattle Times, "NBA Fashion: All-Stars break out specialty shoes for weekend," 11 Feb. 2019 Take a deep breath: Beloved Supreme Court Justice and Academy Award–nominated documentary subject Ruth Bader Ginsburg is back at work two months after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. — Vogue, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is Back in Action on the Supreme Court," 19 Feb. 2019 In February 1952, King George VI of England died of lung cancer, leaving his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, to rule in his stead. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "Inside Queen Elizabeth II's Remarkably Close Relationship With Her Father, King George VI," 5 Feb. 2019 After Ocasio passed away in 2008 from lung cancer, Blanca became the family's breadwinner. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Who Is Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Mom?," 31 Jan. 2019 The biggest risk identified is lung cancer, as the asbestos is inhaled and can lead to cancer development, potentially due to a process involving inflammation and cell death. — Tara C. Smith, SELF, "How Worried Do You Need to Be About Asbestos in Baby Powder and Other Talc Products?," 31 Jan. 2019 Today the company is targeting three of the biggest segments of oncology patients, those with breast, prostate and lung cancer. — Jared S. Hopkins, WSJ, "Pfizer Pivots to Cancer Drugs for Growth," 27 Jan. 2019 Now, just over two years after her death from lung cancer, her son, the photographer and filmmaker Francesco Carrozzini, is following her lead. — Vogue, "A New Fund Launched in Franca Sozzani’s Honor Will Support Genomic Research," 17 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lung.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about lung

Dictionary Entries near lung

Statistics for lung

Last Updated

10 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for lung

The first known use of lung was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for lung

lung

noun

English Language Learners Definition of lung

: either one of the two organs that people and animals use to breathe air

See the full definition for lung in the English Language Learners Dictionary

lung

noun

\ ˈləŋ

Kids Definition of lung

: either of two organs in the chest that are like bags and are the main breathing structure in animals that breathe air

lung

noun

\ ˈləŋ

Medical Definition of lung

1a : 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