organ
UK /ˈɔːɡən/ · US /ˈoɹɡən/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms organs organing organed
- noun The larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions. “bodily organs”
- noun (by extension) A body of an organization dedicated to the performing of certain functions.
- noun (obsolete) A device, apparatus.
- noun (music) A musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed (the pipe organ), or an electronic instrument designed to replicate such.
- noun An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.
- noun A government organization; agency; authority.
- noun (slang) The penis.
- noun (historical, military) An Asian form of mitrailleuse.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs.
- proper noun A surname.
- proper noun A census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States.
Synonyms
electric organ electronic organ Hammond organ pipe organ harmonium reed organ
Etymology
From Middle English organe, from Old French organe and Old English organ, both from Latin organum, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “an instrument, implement, tool, also an organ of sense or apprehension, an organ of the body, also a musical instrument, an organ”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ-. Doublet of organon, organum, and orgue.
From organ, a metonymic occupational surname for a player of a musical instrument.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are organs of government.
- noun A natural part or structure in an animal or a plant, capable of performing some special action (termed its function), which is essential to the life or well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are organs of plants.
- verb To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize. [Obs.]
Etymology [L. organum, Gr. work: cf. F. organe. See Work, and cf. Orgue, Orgy.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “organ”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details