kidney

[kid-nee]

noun

plural

kidneys 

1. Anatomy.,  either of a pair of bean-shaped organs in the back part of the abdominal cavity that form and excrete urine, regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, and act as endocrine glands.

2. Zoology.,  a corresponding organ in other vertebrate animals or an organ of like function in invertebrates.

3. the meat of an animal's kidney used as food.

4. constitution or temperament.

   He was a quiet child, of a different kidney from his boisterous brothers.

5. kind, sort, or class.

   He is only at ease with men of his own kidney.

kidney

/ ˈkɪdnɪ /

noun

1. either of two bean-shaped organs at the back of the abdominal cavity in man, one on each side of the spinal column. They maintain water and electrolyte balance and filter waste products from the blood, which are excreted as urine

2. the corresponding organ in other animals

3. the kidneys of certain animals used as food

4. class, type, or disposition (esp in the phrases of the same or a different kidney )

kidney

1. Either of a pair of organs that are located in the rear of the abdominal cavity in vertebrates. The kidneys regulate fluid balance in the body and filter out wastes from the blood in the form of urine. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. Wastes filtered from the blood by the nephrons drain into the ureters, muscular tubes that connect each kidney to the bladder.

2. See also nephron

Other Word Forms

• kidneylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kidney¹

1275–1325; Middle English kidenei, kidenere (singular), kideneres, kideneren (plural); origin uncertain; perhaps a compound based either on nere (singular), neres (plural) kidney ( Old English *nēore; compare Old High German nioro, Old Norse nȳra ); or ei (singular), eiren (plural) egg ¹, Old English ǣg (singular), ǣgru (plural) (by association with the organ's shape); for the first element compare dial. kid pod (akin to cod ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of kidney¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Also, since the foetuses were attached to organs like the liver, kidneys and the intestines, they had to be extracted with great care so that no organs or blood vessels were damaged.

From BBC

Some patients have had a kidney transplant that has kept working for more than 50 years.

From BBC

On 14 August, he called to tell her that he had a rupture in his kidney which had affected his spine.

From BBC

Upon their violent first meeting, Hank loses a kidney, and soon after, is faced with a series of decisions that will define who he is forevermore.

From Salon

Such factors include obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, chronic lung disease, kidney disease and immunocompromising conditions.

From Los Angeles Times

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