lung
UK: lʌŋ | US: lʌŋ
n. Either of the two paired respiratory organs in the chest of humans and most vertebrates, responsible for oxygenating blood and removing carbon dioxide.
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The word "lung" traces back to Old English lungen, derived from Proto-Germanic lunganjo, meaning "the light organ" (due to its low density compared to other organs). This term is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root legwh- ("light in weight"), reflecting the organ's spongy, air-filled structure. The semantic connection between "lightness" and "breathing" persists across Germanic languages (e.g., German Lunge, Dutch long).
Smoking can severely damage your lungs over time.
The doctor listened to her lungs with a stethoscope.
Whales have evolved massive lungs to support deep dives.
Pollution exacerbates lung diseases like asthma.
Amphibians absorb oxygen through both lungs and skin.