Meaning & use
organ
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Meanings
nouncountablebiology
A part of a living body, such as the heart or lungs, that has its own particular job.
Grammar: Countable: an organ, several organs.
Patterns
- an organ of the body
- organ donor
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body.
The surgeon placed the healthy organ in the patient.
Plants also have organs, such as roots and leaves.
nouncountablemusic
A large musical instrument with pipes, played using keyboards and foot pedals, often in churches.
Grammar: Countable; also used for electric organs.
Patterns
- play the organ
- an organ concert
The organ in the cathedral filled the building with sound.
He plays the organ at the local church every Sunday.
An electric organ was used in the band's early songs.
nouncountableformal
A newspaper or magazine that speaks for a particular group or organization.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: the organ of a party.
Patterns
- an organ of something
The paper was the official organ of the trade union.
The magazine serves as an organ of the party.
The society published its views in its own organ.
Word forms
| plural | organs |
|---|
Common combinations
- internal organs
- A scan showed that the internal organs were healthy.
- organ transplant
- She is waiting for an organ transplant.
- organ donor
- He signed up to be an organ donor.
- pipe organ
- The pipe organ has more than a thousand pipes.
- vital organ
- The heart is a vital organ.
Synonyms and how they differ
- body part
- Body part is a broader, everyday phrase that includes limbs, while organ refers to internal structures with specific functions.
- instrument
- Instrument covers any music-making object, while organ names one particular keyboard instrument.
- mouthpiece
- Mouthpiece is a plainer word for a publication that speaks for a group, often suggesting loss of independence.
- periodical
- Periodical is any regular publication, with no suggestion of speaking for a group.
Word family
Commonly confused: organ or argon? organ or organism?
organ vs argon
Argon is a gas and has nothing to do with the body or music.
organ vs organism
An organism is a whole living thing, while an organ is just a part of one.
Practice
Which of these is an organ of the human body?
Choose one answer.
A kidney is an organ with a specific job. Marrow is tissue, and skin tone and blood type are not body parts.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “organ”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.