Organ

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈɔɹ.É¡É™n/
• RP IPA: /ˈɔː.É¡É™n/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)É¡É™n
• Hyphenation: or + gan

Origin

From Latin organum, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (organon, "an instrument, implement, tool, also an organ of sense or apprehension, an organ of the body, also a musical instrument, an organ"), from *ἔργειν (ergein, "to work").

Full definition of organ

Noun

1. A largest part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions.
2. (by extension) A body of an organization dedicated to the performing of certain functions.
3. (musical instruments) A musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed, or an electronic instrument designed to replicate such.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, …, the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.
4. An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.
5. A species of cactus ().
6. (slang) The penis.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• barrel organ
• house organ
• internal organ
• mouth organ
• sense organ
• sex organ
• storage organ
• swell organ
• vital organ

Related terms

• organelle
• organic
• organise or organize
• organism
• organist

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs.
• Bishop MannynghamThou art elemented and organed for other apprehensions.

Anagrams

• argon
• Goran
• groan