liver
LIH-vuh
Liver (noun) means the large organ in the abdomen that filters the blood, processes nutrients, and removes toxins. Example: “The doctor explained that the liver can repair itself if given enough time.”
noun
1
The large organ in the abdomen that filters the blood, processes nutrients, and removes toxins.
"The doctor explained that the liver can repair itself if given enough time."
"The liver plays a key role in digesting fats."
"Heavy drinking can seriously damage your liver."
2
This organ from an animal, eaten as food.
"My grandfather loved fried liver with mashed potatoes, but I never liked the taste."
"Chicken liver is often blended into a smooth pate."
"She cooked liver and onions for dinner."
3
A dark reddish-brown colour, like that of liver.
"The old leather armchair had faded to a rich liver colour."
"She painted the front door liver, which looked very smart against the white walls."
"The sofa was upholstered in a deep liver shade."
How to use liver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe organ that cleans your blood, or the food made from an animal's version of it.
Common pairings
liver damage
liver disease
liver and onions
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Word forms
- Plural
- livers
- Comparative
- more Liver
- Superlative
- most Liver
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The doctor explained that the _____ can repair itself if given enough time.
Etymology
From Old English lifer, an old Germanic word for the organ, related to German Leber.
Rhymes for liver
See all rhymes for liver →Frequently asked questions
What does “liver” mean?
The word “liver” means the large organ in the abdomen that filters the blood, processes nutrients, and removes toxins. In plain terms, the organ that cleans your blood, or the food made from an animal's version of it.
How do you pronounce “liver”?
“Liver” is pronounced LIH-vuh (/ˈlɪvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “liver” in a sentence?
Here is “liver” used in a sentence: “The liver plays a key role in digesting fats.”
What part of speech is “liver”?
“Liver” is a noun.
Where does the word “liver” come from?
The word “liver” comes from Old English. From Old English lifer, an old Germanic word for the organ, related to German Leber.
Is “liver” a common word?
“Liver” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “liver” have?
“Liver” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the large organ in the abdomen that filters the blood, processes nutrients, and removes toxins.
Is "liver" countable or uncountable when it refers to food?
As food, "liver" is usually treated as an uncountable mass noun, as in "liver and onions," even though it comes from a countable organ. You would normally say "some liver" rather than "two livers" unless referring to whole organs from separate animals.
What are common words that go with "liver"?
"Liver" pairs with "chicken," "calf's," or "lamb's" to name the source when eaten, and with "damage," "disease," and "function" in medical contexts. "Liver spots" and "chopped liver" are common fixed phrases.
Does "liver" the organ relate to the verb "live"?
Although "liver" the organ and "liver" meaning "one who lives" are spelled the same, they behave as separate words and are pronounced differently: the organ has a short "i," while "one who lives" has a long "i." Pronunciation and context keep them apart.
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