lung
- 01 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“Smoking can cause serious damage to your lungs over time.”
In context“The surgeon explained how the patient's left lung had been compromised by the infection, necessitating a prolonged course of antibiotics.”
- 02 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.
Simple“The young singer has a powerful set of lungs.”
In context“After months of high-altitude training, the athlete found she had the lungs to maintain a sprinting pace during the final lap.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The central park is often called the green lung of the city.”
In context“Urban planners argued that preserving the ancient woodland was essential, as it served as the primary lung for the industrial district.”
Synonymsgreen space
Usage lung cancer · lung function · lung growth
“And, when scientists measured lung function again at the end of the study, young Londoners’ lungs had caught up.”
“As a result, we still need to understand how easily it enters or clears from the lungs.”
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 Superseded non-native Middle English pomoun (“lung”), borrowed from Old French poumon, pomon (“lung”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.