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Entry 6 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Organ

/(ôr"gan)/ · Or·gan · IPA /ˈɔɹɡən/
01 n. An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, ta…
  1. 1.
    An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are organs of government.
  2. 2.
    A natural part or structure in an animal or a plant, capable of performing some special action (termed its function), which is essential to the life or well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are organs of plants.(Biol.)
  3. 3.
    A component part performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine.
  4. 4.
    A medium of communication between one person or body and another; as, the secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power; a newspaper is the organ of its editor, or of a party, sect, etc. A newsletter distributed within an organization is often called its house organ.
  5. 5.
    A wind instrument containing numerous pipes of various dimensions and kinds, which are filled with wind from a bellows, and played upon by means of keys similar to those of a piano, and sometimes by foot keys or pedals; -- formerly used in the plural, each pipe being considered an organ.(Mus.)
    “The deep, majestic, solemn organs blow.” — Pope.
    “The merry orgon . . . that in the church goon [go].”
Phrases & compounds
Barrel organ — See under Barrel, Choir, etc.
Cabinet organ — an organ of small size, as for a chapel or for domestic use; a reed organ.
Organ bird — a Tasmanian crow shrike (Gymnorhina organicum). It utters discordant notes like those of a hand organ out of tune.
Organ fish — the drumfish.
Organ gun — Same as Orgue (b).
Organ harmonium — an harmonium of large capacity and power.
Organ of Corti — a complicated structure in the cochlea of the ear, including the auditory hair cells, the rods or fibers of Corti, the membrane of Corti, etc. See Note under Ear.
Organ pipe — See Pipe, n., 1.
Organ-pipe coral — See Tubipora.
Organ point — a passage in which the tonic or dominant is sustained continuously by one part, while the other parts move.
02 v. t. To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize.
  1. 1.
    To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize.[Obs.]
    “Thou art elemented and organed for other apprehensions.” — Bp. Mannyngham.