Definition of organ
1a archaic : any of various musical instruments; especially : wind instrumentb (1) : a keyboard instrument in which sets of pipes are sounded by compressed air and produce a variety of timbres —called also pipe organ (2) : reed organ (3) : an electronic keyboard instrument that approximates the sounds and resources of the pipe organ (4) : any of various similar cruder instruments
2a : a differentiated structure (such as a heart, kidney, leaf, or stem) consisting of cells and tissues and performing some specific function in an organismb : bodily parts performing a function or cooperating in an activity the eyes and related structures that make up the visual organs
3 : a subordinate group or organization that performs specialized functions the various organs of government
4 : periodical
From the M-W Editors
Examples of organ in a Sentence
the legislative organ of our government
that newspaper is intended as an organ for the whole university community
Recent Examples of organ from the Web
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The organs responsible for detoxifying our system are the kidneys and the liver.
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Many patients are hospitalized for weeks with serious infections, punctured organs and other medical complications.
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Allman’s bluesy vocals and soulful touch on the Hammond B-3 organ helped propel The Allman Brothers Band to superstardom and spawn Southern rock.
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But in 1966, Hughes United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Md., had just installed an organ.
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Duane urged his brother to take up the organ, specifically a Hammond B3.
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Mr. Allman’s percussive Hammond B-3 organ playing helped anchor the Allman Brothers’ rhythm section and provided a chuffing counterpoint to the often heated musical interplay between his brother and the band’s other lead guitarist, Dickey Betts.
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What had been indolent and slow growing has suddenly become aggressive, attacking an organ that has been unaffected since his diagnosis in 2012.
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Genzyme Corp. started the trend in 1991 by charging $150,000 for a year’s supply of a drug for treating Gaucher disease, an ailment that weakens bones and internal organs.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'organ'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of organ
Middle English, partly from Old English organa, from Latin organum, from Greek organon, literally, tool, instrument; partly from Anglo-French organe, from Latin organum; akin to Greek ergon work — more at work
First Known Use: before 12th century
organ-
organo-
Definition of organ-
1 : organ organogenesis
2 : organic organomercurial
Origin and Etymology of organ-
Greek organon
ORGAN Defined for English Language Learners
organ
playDefinition of organ for English Language Learners
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: a part of the body (such as the heart or liver) that has a particular function
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—used as a polite way of saying penis
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: a musical instrument that has a keyboard and pipes of different lengths and that makes sound by pushing air through the pipes
ORGAN Defined for Kids
organ
playDefinition of organ for Students
1 : a musical instrument played by means of one or more keyboards and having pipes sounded by compressed air
2 : a part of a person, plant, or animal that is specialized to perform a particular function The eye is an organ of sight.
3 : a way of getting something done Courts are organs of government.
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about organ
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See words that rhyme with organ Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for organ Spanish Central: Translation of organ Nglish: Translation of organ for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of organ for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about organ
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