Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Organ
Or′gan
(ôr′gan)
, Noun.
1.
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 government2.
(Biol.)
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☞ In animals the organs are generally made up of several tissues, one of which usually predominates, and determines the principal function of the organ. Groups of organs constitute a
system
. See System
. 3.
A component part performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine;
as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are
. organs
of the steam engine5.
[Cf. AS.
organ
, fr. L. organum
.] (Mus.)
A wind instrument containing numerous pipes of various dimensions and kinds, which are filled with wind from a bellows, and played upon by means of keys similar to those of a piano, and sometimes by foot keys or pedals; – formerly used in the plural, each pipe being considered an organ.
The deep, majestic, solemn
organs
blow. Pope.
☞ Chaucer used the form orgon as a plural.
The merry
orgon
. . . that in the church goon [go]. Barrel organ
, Choir organ
, Great organ
Cabinet organ
(Mus.)
, an organ of small size, as for a chapel or for domestic use; a reed organ.
– Organ bird
(Zool.)
, a Tasmanian crow shrike (
– Gymnorhina organicum
). It utters discordant notes like those of a hand organ out of tune. Organ fish
(Zool.)
, the drumfish.
– Organ gun
. (Mil.)
Same as
– Orgue
(b)
. Organ harmonium
(Mus.)
, an harmonium of large capacity and power.
– Organ of Corti
(Anat.)
, a complicated structure in the cochlea of the ear, including the auditory hair cells, the rods or fibers of Corti, the membrane of Corti, etc. See Note under
– Ear
. Organ pipe
. See , 1.
– Pipe
, Noun.
Organ-pipe coral
. (Zool.)
See
– Tubipora
. Organ point
(Mus.)
, a passage in which the tonic or dominant is sustained continuously by one part, while the other parts move.
Or′gan
,Verb.
T.
To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize.
[Obs.]
Thou art elemented and
organed
for other apprehensions. Bp. Mannyngham.
Webster 1828 Edition
Organ
OR'GAN
,Noun.
1.
A natural instrument of action or operation, or by which some process is carried on. Thus the arteries and veins of animal bodies are organs of circulation; the lungs are organs of respiration; the nerves are organs of perception and sensation; the muscles are organs of motion; the ears are organs of hearing; the tongue is the organ of speech.2.
The instrument or means of conveyance or communication. A secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power.3.
The largest and most harmonious of wind instruments of music, consisting of pipes which are filled with wind, and stops touched by the fingers. It is blown by a bellows.