DictionaryAI

organ

OR-guhn/ˈɔɹɡən/UKAW-guhn/ˈɔːɡən/

Pluralorgans

10 meanings of organ

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A part of the body, like the heart or lungs, that does a special job.

    Like a part in a machine that has one main job, such as the engine in a car.

    The heart is an organ that pumps blood around your body.

    Doctors can sometimes move a healthy organ from one person to another.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A large musical instrument that makes sound by pushing air through many pipes, played using a keyboard.

    Like a piano, but instead of strings it uses air blown through pipes to make sound.

    The church organ filled the hall with deep, powerful music.

    She learned to play the organ when she was ten.

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A part of a larger group that is set up to do certain jobs.

    Like one part of a team that has its own special job to do.

    The committee is an organ of the student council.

    Each organ of the company handles a different task.

    Similararm, body, branch, agency

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A part of a government that has official power to carry out certain jobs.

    The courts are an important organ of government.

    This organ of the state controls public health.

    Similarbody, agency, authority, institution

  5. 5
    nouncountable
    An official magazine or newsletter that a group puts out.

    Like a school newsletter that shares the official news from the office.

    The newsletter is the official organ of the club.

    Members read the union's monthly organ for the latest news.

    Similarmouthpiece, publication, journal

  6. 6
    nounslangcountable
    A polite or indirect word for the penis.

    The doctor examined his organ after the accident.

    He covered his organ with a towel before the nurse came in.

    Similarmember, penis

    Note
  7. 7
    nounabbreviationellipsis
    Short way of saying organ pipe cactus. Use it when the surrounding text already makes the plant clear.

    The hikers walked past a tall organ, its green arms covered in sharp spines.

    Out in the Sonoran Desert, an organ can grow much taller than a person.

    Note
  8. 8
    nounhistoricalcountable
    An old Asian weapon with many gun barrels set side by side that fire together.

    Like many small guns tied together so they all shoot at the same moment.

    The fort's defenders fired the organ at the advancing troops.

    Lieutenant Roberts was also severely wounded by a missile, or weapon called an Organ, which is composed of about thirty-six gun barrels so joined as to fire at once.
    1790, H. Compton, A particular account of the European military adventurers of HindustanHere, Organ means a gun with many barrels that all fire at once.
    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 9
    nounobsolete
    A tool, machine, or piece of equipment.

    The craftsman built an organ to lift heavy stones onto the wall.

    This Organ is called a Thermometer, or Thermoscope, because the degrees of Heat and Cold are measured and marked by it.
    1656, Thomas Hobbes, Elements of PhilosophyHere, Organ means a tool or instrument used to do a job.
    Note
  2. 10
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To fit or supply something with an organ or organs.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin organum, which came from Ancient Greek órganon, meaning a tool, a body part, or a musical instrument.