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

That estimate is from the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, or CARD, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit clinic that has provided free lung screenings for locals. —Aaron Bolton, NPR, 7 July 2025

Created by Vince Gilligan, the show follows Walter White, a disillusioned high school chemistry teacher who, after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, turns to cooking meth to secure his family's future. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

Shortness of breath: Prostate cancer may spread to the lungs and cause breathing symptoms like shortness of breath. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 July 2025

The actor died on Dec. 25, 1997, at age 77 from lung cancer. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 July 2025

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