Organ
['ɔːg(ə)n] or ['ɔrɡən]
Definition
(noun.) wind instrument whose sound is produced by means of pipes arranged in sets supplied with air from a bellows and controlled from a large complex musical keyboard.
(noun.) a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function.
(noun.) a periodical that is published by a special interest group; 'the organ of the communist party'.
(noun.) a government agency or instrument devoted to the performance of some specific function; 'The Census Bureau is an organ of the Commerce Department'.
Typed by Anatole--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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 government.
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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 engine.
(n.) A medium of communication between one person or body and another; as, the secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power; a newspaper is the organ of its editor, or of a party, sect, etc.
(n.) 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 considired an organ.
(v. t.) To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize.
Edited by Elise
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Instrument, means, medium.
Checker: Sherman
Definition
n. an instrument or means by which anything is done: a part of a body fitted for carrying on a natural or vital operation: a means of communication or of conveying information or opinions from one to another of two parties as an ambassador a newspaper &c.: a musical wind instrument consisting of a collection of pipes made to sound by means of compressed air from bellows and played upon by means of keys: a system of pipes in such an organ having an individual keyboard a partial organ: a musical instrument having some mechanism resembling the pipe-organ as the barrel-organ &c.—ns. Or′gan-build′er one who constructs organs; Or′gan-grind′er a fellow who plays a hand-organ by a crank; Or′gan-harmō′nium a large harmonium used instead of a pipe-organ.—adjs. Organ′ic -al pertaining to an organ: organised: instrumental.—adv. Organ′ically.—n. Organ′icalness.—v.t. Organ′ify to add organic matter to.—n. Organisabil′ity.—adj. Organis′able that may be organised.—n. Organisā′tion the act of organising: the state of being organised.—v.t. Or′ganīse to supply with organs: to form several parts into an organised whole to arrange.—ns. Or′ganīser; Or′ganism organic structure or a body exhibiting such: a living being animal or vegetable.—adj. Or′ganismal.—ns. Or′ganist one who plays on an organ; Or′gan-loft the loft where an organ stands; Organog′eny Organogen′esis history of the development of living organs; Organog′raphy a description of the organs of plants or animals; Organol′ogy the study of structure and function; Or′gan-pipe one of the sounding pipes of a pipe-organ (flue-pipes and reed-pipes); Or′gan-point a note sustained through a series of chords although only in harmony with the first and last; Or′ganry the music of the organ; Or′gan-screen an ornamental stone or wood screen on which a secondary organ is sometimes placed in cathedrals; Orguinette′ a mechanical musical instrument with reeds and exhaust-bellows.—Organic chemistry the chemistry of substances of animal or vegetable origin prior to 1828 supposed to be capable of formation only as products of vital processes: the chemistry of the compounds of carbon; Organic disease a disease accompanied by changes in the structures involved; Organic remains fossil remains of a plant or animal.—Hydraulic organ one whose bellows is operated by a hydraulic motor.
Typist: Loretta
Unserious Contents or Definition
To hear the pealing forth of an organ in grand anthems, signifies lasting friendships and well-grounded fortune. To see an organ in a church, denotes despairing separation of families, and death, perhaps, for some of them. If you dream of rendering harmonious music on an organ, you will be fortunate in the way to worldly comfort, and much social distinction will be given you. To hear doleful singing and organ accompaniment, denotes you are nearing a wearisome task, and probable loss of friends or position.
Editor: Murdoch
Examples
- Keeps the organ moist, does it, Wegg? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I know you won't believe it,' said the man with the roguish eye, making that organ look more roguish than ever. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- When we were coming home from Lausanne my uncle took us to hear the great organ at Freiberg, and it made me sob. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The first office of the social organ we call the school is to provide a simplified environment. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Now compress the artery leading from the organ, and the part between the heart and the point of pressur e, and the heart itself, become distended and take on a deep purple color. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- But to get a full picture of what is happening you cannot read only the party organ. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Bits of old wood carvings from the pulpit, and panels from the chancel, and images from the organ-loft, said the clerk. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Ingenuity has been shown also in the invention of talking-machines, like Faber's, based on the reed organ pipe. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- I soon discovered my mistake and found him to be train-bearer and organ-blower to a whole procession of people. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- One might say t hat the brain is the instrument through which the mind manifests itself rather than the organ by which mind is excreted. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- No organ will be formed, as Paley has remarked, for the purpose of causing pain or for doing an injury to its possessor. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- In the head and face every organ and lineament expressive of brutal and unhesitating violence was in a state of the highest possible development. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The organ-grinder piteously put in his claim to a penny from the benevolent stranger. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- And meaty jelly too, especially when a little salt, which is the case where there's ham, is mellering to the organ, is very mellering to the organ. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- It's as good as an organ, and as different from every day, too. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Something which is called mind or consciousness is severed from the physical organs of activity. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Hence in the several fishes furnished with electric organs, these cannot be considered as homologous, but only as analogous in function. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- Pure species have of course their organs of reproduction in a perfect condition, yet when intercrossed they produce either few or no offspring. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- It is an active control of the environment through control of the organs of action. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The spontaneous development of our organs and capacities constitutes the education of Nature. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Then it operates to call out mechanical reactions, ability to use the vocal organs to repeat statements, or the hand to write or to do sums. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The lips and vocal organs, and the hands, have to be used to reproduce in speech and writing what has been stowed away. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Besides the avicularia, the polyzoa possess curious organs called vibracula. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- I have now given the leading facts with respect to rudimentary organs. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- Rudimentary organs, from being useless, are not regulated by natural selection, and hence are variable. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- The organs are so disposed as to produce the passion; and the passion, after its production, naturally produces a certain idea. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- Rudimentary organs will speak infallibly with respect to the nature of long-lost structures. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- Certain compound animals, or zoophytes, as they have been termed, namely the Polyzoa, are provided with curious organs called avicularia. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- Ants, however, work by inherited instincts and by inherited organs or tools, while man works by acquired knowledge and manufactured instruments. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
- The start is from native activities of the vocal apparatus, organs of hearing, etc. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
Checked by Elton