Word
liver
Phoneticsliv·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɪvɝ/
UK/lˈɪvɐ/
Definitions
01body organ
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a large organ in your body that cleans your blood and helps you digest food.
n. a large glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates, involved in many metabolic processes and the secretion of bile.
日本語:肝臓※
“Drinking too much alcohol over many years can damage your liver.”
“The surgeon noted that the patient's liver appeared healthy and was functioning normally despite the previous infection.”
02food
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. the liver of an animal, like a cow or chicken, eaten as food.
n. the organ of an animal used as a culinary ingredient, often valued for its high iron and vitamin content.
日本語:レバー※
“She cooked liver and onions for dinner because it is full of iron.”
“The chef prepared a delicate calf's liver, pan-seared and served with a reduction of balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs.”
Synonyms
03someone who lives
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. a person who lives their life in a particular way.
n. an agent noun referring to a person who lives or conducts their life in a specified manner.
“He was known as a high liver who spent all his money on parties.”
“In the Victorian novel, the protagonist is described as a clean liver who avoided the temptations of the city.”
04colour
C2 · Proficiency Technical
adj. having a dark reddish-brown colour.
adj. of a dark brown colour with a slight reddish or greyish tint, resembling the organ.
“The dog had a beautiful liver-coloured coat that shone in the sun.”
“The breed standard specifies that the spaniel must have liver markings rather than black ones.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “liver” in context.
Verb
01. damage the liver
“Excessive alcohol consumption can severely damage the liver over time.”
verb + noun
02. detoxify the liver
“Many health supplements claim to help detoxify the liver, though scientific evidence is mixed.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. fatty liver
“The doctor warned him that he was developing a fatty liver due to his poor diet.”
adj + noun
04. sluggish liver
“She complained of fatigue and bloating, which her naturopath attributed to a sluggish liver.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. inflammation of the liver
“Hepatitis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the liver.”
noun + of + noun
06. liver failure
“The patient was placed on the transplant list after entering the final stages of liver failure.”
noun + noun
07. liver function test
“The physician ordered a routine liver function test to monitor the effects of the new medication.”
noun + noun
08. liver damage
Real-World Examples
“Untreated, it can cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage.” “UCLA researchers have created a blood test that can scan DNA signals for multiple cancers, liver diseases, and signs of organ damage—and even indicate where trouble may be developing.” “That's due to the energy needed by the stomach, intestines and liver to break down and absorb these complex molecules.” Etymology
From Middle English lyvere, lyver, from Old English lifer (“liver”), from Proto-West Germanic libru, from Proto-Germanic librō, from Proto-Indo-European leyp- (“to smear, smudge, stick”), from Proto-Indo-European ley- (“to be slimy, be sticky, glide”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Líeuwer, Lieuwer (“liver”), West Frisian lever (“liver”), Dutch lever (“liver”), German Leber (“liver”), Danish, Norwegian and Swedish lever (“liver”) (the last three from Old Norse lifr (“liver”)). Related to live.
From Middle English lyvere, livere, equivalent to live + -er.
From live (adjective) + -(e)r.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
01. chopped liver
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/liver
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0