lungs

lungs · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of lung; the pair of respiratory organs in the chest.

  2. 2.

    (figurative) Capacity for breathing or shouting.

Phrases & expressions

  • at the top of one's lungs — shouting as loudly as possible
  • lungs of the earth — forests, especially tropical rainforests, for their oxygen production

Related words

See also: breathe, chest, lung

Etymology

From Old English lungen, from Proto-Germanic lungwo, related to the concept of lightness in weight.