What does "lung" mean?

1. (breathing organ) one of the two parts inside your chest that you use to breathe. 2. (capacity for breath) your ability to breathe deeply or hold your breath during exercise. 3. (source of fresh air) an area of trees or a park that provides fresh air for a city.

lung

US //ˈɫəŋ// UK //lˈʌŋ// lung

1 breathing organ (n.)
B1 Intermediate Medicine

one of the two parts inside your chest that you use to breathe.

either of the two main organs of respiration in humans and many other vertebrates, located in the chest cavity.

Example

Smoking can cause serious damage to your lungs over time.

Example

The surgeon explained how the patient's left lung had been compromised by the infection, necessitating a prolonged course of antibiotics.
2 capacity for breath (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

your ability to breathe deeply or hold your breath during exercise.

the capacity for breathing or the power of the voice, often used in the plural to describe physical stamina.

Example

The young singer has a powerful set of lungs.

Example

After months of high-altitude training, the athlete found she had the lungs to maintain a sprinting pace during the final lap.

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3 source of fresh air (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

an area of trees or a park that provides fresh air for a city.

an area of parkland or forest that provides a source of fresh air for a populated area.

Example

The central park is often called the green lung of the city.

Example

Urban planners argued that preserving the ancient woodland was essential, as it served as the primary lung for the industrial district.
- green space

Origin

From Middle English lunge, longe, from Old English lungen, from Proto-Germanic lunganjō, an enlargement of lungô (“the light organ, lung”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ-, whence ultimately also light. Cognate with West Frisian long, Dutch long, German Lunge, Danish lunge, Norwegian lunge, Swedish lunga, Icelandic lunga, and also Russian лёгкое (ljóxkoje) (lung), Ancient Greek ἐλαφρός (elaphrós, “light in weight”) and perhaps Albanian lungë (“blister, bulge”). Compare Latin levis and Old English lēoht (Modern English light). See also lights (“lungs”). Superseded non-native Middle English pomoun (“lung”), borrowed from Old French poumon, pomon (“lung”).