organ

plural organs

1. The larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions.

   vital organ

   2 more examples

   bodily organs

   No matter the extraordinary progress that has been made in heart surgery over the past century, the heart remains a vulnerable organ.

   2018, Sandeep Jauhar, Heart: a History, →ISBN, page 98

2. broadlyA body of an organization dedicated to the performing of certain functions.
3. obsoleteA device, apparatus.

   This Organ is called a Thermometer, or Thermoscope, because the degrees of Heat and Cold are measured and marked by it.

   1656, Thomas Hobbes, Elements of Philosophy

4. entertainmentA musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed (the pipe organ), or an electronic instrument designed to replicate such.

   He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

5. An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.
6. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of organ pipe cactus.
7. A government organization; agency; authority.
8. slangThe penis.

   If the Snake has an unmistakeable resemblance to the male organ in its active state, the foliage of the tree or bush is equally remindful of the female.

   1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., page 81

9. historicalgovernmentAn Asian form of mitrailleuse.

   Lieutenant Roberts was also severely wounded by a missile, or weapon called an Organ, which is composed of about thirty-six gun barrels so joined as to fire at once.

   1790, H. Compton, A particular account of the European military adventurers of Hindustan, from 1784 to 1803, page 61

present singular third person organs · participle present organing · participle past organed · past organed

1. obsoletetransitiveTo supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs.

   [W]hen he ſays, he has compaſſion on’em, they ſhould ask, where then are his Bowels! […] Alaſs! fond Creature, thou art Elemented and Organ’d for other Apprehenſions […]

   1681, Tho[mas] Maunyngham, Two Discourses, London: Will[iam] Cademan, page 89

plural Organs

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableA census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States.