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kidney

noun
KID-nee/ˈkɪdni/

Pluralkidneys

4 meanings of kidney

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  1. 1
    nouncountable
    An organ that cleans waste from the blood and makes urine.

    Like a filter that cleans dirt out of water before it flows on.

    Each kidney cleans waste from your blood every day.

    Doctors found a problem with one of her kidneys.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    Meat from an animal's kidney, cooked and served as food.

    We had steak and kidney pie for dinner.

    She fried some kidneys with onions for breakfast.

  3. 3
    noundatedfiguratively
    The basic character or type that a person belongs to.

    He and his brother are clearly of the same kidney.

    Millions in the World of this Man's Kidney
    1692, Roger L’Estrange, FablesHere, Kidney means kind or type, so people with this man's character.

    Similarstamp, ilk, sort, type, temperament

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounobsolete
    A person who serves food and drinks to people at a table.

    The kidney brought our plates and filled the cups with ale.

    She called the kidney over to order another round.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English kidney. Its exact origin is unclear, but it may come from an old word for belly or womb plus an old word for kidney.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts