1
a
: a large very vascular glandular organ of vertebrates that secretes bile and causes important changes in many of the substances contained in the blood (as by converting sugars into glycogen which it stores up until required and by forming urea)
b
: any of various large compound glands associated with the digestive tract of invertebrate animals and probably concerned with the secretion of digestive enzymes
2
archaic
: a determinant of the quality or temper of a man
3
: the liver of an animal (such as a calf or chicken) eaten as food
4
: a grayish reddish brown
called also liver brown, liver maroon
Examples of liver in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024
Excessive alcohol intake can damage the liver, where iron is stored.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
Lesh was a prostate and bladder cancer survivor and had a liver transplant in 1998 due to a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024
Consuming large amounts of highly concentrated green tea has been linked to liver damage.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for liver 
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Noun
People who ate food from Beans & Barley between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13 may have been exposed to hepatitis A, a contagious virus that causes liver infection and can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, according to a department news release.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024
Excessive alcohol intake can damage the liver, where iron is stored.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
Lesh was a prostate and bladder cancer survivor and had a liver transplant in 1998 due to a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024
Consuming large amounts of highly concentrated green tea has been linked to liver damage.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for liver
Dictionary Entries Near liver
Cite this Entry
“Liver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liver. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liver
1 of 2 noun
liv·er
ˈliv-ər 
1
a
: a large glandular organ of vertebrates that secretes bile and causes changes in the blood (as by changing sugars into glycogen and by forming urea)
b
: any of various large probably digestive glands of invertebrate animals
2
: the liver of an animal (as of a calf or chicken) eaten as food
liver
2 of 2 noun
liv·er
ˈliv-ər
: one that lives especially in a specified way
Medical Definition
liver
noun
liv·er
ˈliv-ər
1
a
: a large very vascular glandular organ of vertebrates that secretes bile and causes important changes in many of the substances contained in the blood which passes through it (as by converting sugars into glycogen which it stores up until required and by forming urea), that in humans is the largest gland in the body, weighs from 40 to 60 ounces (1100 to 1700 grams), is a dark red color, and occupies the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity immediately below the diaphragm, that is divided by fissures into five lobes, and that receives blood both from the hepatic artery and the portal vein and returns it to the systemic circulation by the hepatic veins
b
: any of various large compound glands associated with the digestive tract of invertebrate animals and probably concerned with the secretion of digestive enzymes
2
: the liver of an animal (as a calf or pig) eaten as food or used as a source of pharmaceutical products (as liver extract)
3
: disease or disorder of the liver : biliousness
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