lung

noun \ˈləŋ\

: either one of the two organs that people and animals use to breathe air

Full Definition of LUNG

a : one of the usually paired compound saccular thoracic organs that constitute the basic respiratory organ of air-breathing vertebrates

b : any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates

a : a device enabling individuals abandoning a submarine to rise to the surface

b : a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lung : respirator — compare iron lung

— lung·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

See lung defined for English-language learners

See lung defined for kids

Origin of LUNG

Middle English lunge, from Old English lungen; akin to Old High German lungun lung, līhti light in weight — more at light

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with LUNG

bung, dung, hung, pung, rung, tongue, tung, young

LUNG Defined for Kids

lung

noun \ˈləŋ\

Definition of LUNG for Kids

: either of two organs in the chest that are like bags and are the main breathing structure in animals that breathe air

Medical Dictionary

lung

noun \ˈləŋ\

Medical Definition of LUNG

a : one of the usually two compound saccular organs that constitute the basic respiratory organ of air-breathing vertebrates, that normally occupy the entire lateral parts of the thorax and consist essentially of an inverted tree of intricately branched bronchioles communicating with thin-walled terminal alveoli swathed in a network of delicate capillaries where the actual gaseous exchange of respiration takes place, and that in humans are somewhat flattened with a broad base resting against the diaphragm and have the right lung divided into three lobes and the left into two lobes b : any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates

: a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lungs : respirator—see iron lung

—lunged adjective