1
a
: one of the usually paired compound saccular thoracic organs that constitute the basic respiratory organs of an air-breathing vertebrate
b
: any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates
2
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
Examples of lung in a Sentence
He filled his lungs with the clean. fresh air.
Recent Examples on the Web
Many were parents of children with lung diseases and environmental justice activists who said the standard doesn’t go far enough to reduce air pollution and climate change.
—
Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
The lungs of the people there exploded from the air pressure when the bombs hit; many of them are intact, but look like mannequins.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
After weeks or months, these larvae undergo a process of metamorphosis, which see the tadpoles change into frogs—growing legs, lungs to breathe on land, changing mouthparts to eat meat rather than plants, and shrinking and absorbing their tail.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs that is normally spread through the air.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Well, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lung 
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Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
The lungs of the people there exploded from the air pressure when the bombs hit; many of them are intact, but look like mannequins.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
After weeks or months, these larvae undergo a process of metamorphosis, which see the tadpoles change into frogs—growing legs, lungs to breathe on land, changing mouthparts to eat meat rather than plants, and shrinking and absorbing their tail.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs that is normally spread through the air.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Well, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lung
Dictionary Entries Near lung
Cite this Entry
“Lung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lung. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lung
noun1
a
: one of the usually paired organs forming the special breathing structure of vertebrates that breathe air
b
: any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates
2
: a device (as an iron lung) to promote breathing and make it easier
Medical Definition
lung
noun1
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
2
: a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lungs : respirator see iron lung
lunged
adjective
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