organ
/ˈɔːɡ(ə)n
/noun
1A part of an organism which is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function: the internal organs...
- An abscess on an internal organ such as the liver or brain may be diagnosed by X-ray or scanning.
- In only specific organs is a biopsy recommended without there being an identifiable lump.
- If you want to have specific organs donated, will doctors remove anything else?
Synonyms
part of the body, body part, biological structure
1.1Used euphemistically to refer to the penis: the male organ...
- I guess there might have been some serious feelings of inadequacy by some of the male viewers who came to see the sizeable organ eh?
- It seems MacManus was inspired to write the book because of his observations on Greek sculpture and their lack of accuracy when it came to the male organ.
- According to Van Damme, the dog represents the uncircumcised boy, the feline is the circumcised individual, and the coiled snake is the male organ.
1.2 archaic A region of the brain formerly held to be the seat of a particular faculty.Brain organs which were used got bigger and those which were not used shrunk, causing the skull to rise and fall with organ development.
2 (also pipe organ) A large musical instrument having rows of pipes supplied with air from bellows (now usually electrically powered), and played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism. The pipes are generally arranged in ranks of a particular type, each controlled by a stop, and often into larger sets linked to separate keyboards. See also reed organ.The sounds of the organ and the choir used to mesmerize the faithful in those days....
- The mass is sung by a vocal ensemble of six solo voices doubled by six instruments with organ.
- The organ sounded from the front of the church, the rich tones bringing me out of my reverie.
2.1An electronic keyboard instrument that produces sounds similar to those of a pipe organ.It is a song of hope and justice. Use percussion and guitars rather than an organ or piano....
- The atmosphere is created mostly with pianos and organs, less so the strings of the past few albums.
- Somehow an organ and a drum kit can sound like Venus' doors swooping wide.
3A department or organization that performs a specified function: the organs of local government...
- Is it a state of affairs where free speech is suppressed by the organs of the State?
- These organs of the global economy are likewise members of the United Nations family.
- The Fascist Party and its organs were dissolved amid popular celebration.
4A newspaper or periodical which promotes the views of a political party or movement: he repositioned the journal as a leading organ of neoconservatism...
- It was ridiculous to see in this country how some of the leading media organs campaigned for press censorship.
- The party organ had been in the news these days for all the wrong reasons.
- He was an editorial writer for the Central Daily News, the chief organ of the ruling Nationalist Party.
Synonyms
newspaper, paper, journal, periodical, magazine, newsletter, gazette, bulletin, publication, means of communication, mouthpiece, voice, forum, vehicle, medium, channel, instrument, agency
informal rag
Origin
Late Old English, via Latin from Greek organon 'tool, instrument, sense organ', reinforced in Middle English by Old French organe.
The word organ came via Latin from Greek organon ‘tool, instrument, sense organ’, also found in organize (Late Middle English). Organ was first adopted in the ‘musical instrument’ sense. Organic (Late Middle English) has been used meaning ‘produced without the use of artificial chemicals’ from the mid 19th century.