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
Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
The couple was arrested on child abuse charges on New Year’s Day in 2021, after Joseph brought their 8-year-old daughter to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia, a staph infection and failure of the liver and kidneys, according to the arrest report obtained by WFTV.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
This forces the liver to take cholesterol from the blood to make more bile acid, lowering cholesterol levels.6
The drug can also bind other drugs, including vitamin D, in the stomach and intestines, lowering the amount of vitamin D in the body.
—Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Jan. 2025
State of play: The company's first trials, which are set to begin in New Zealand and Hong Kong, focus on targeting hepatitis B and eliminating its ability to replicate in the liver.
—Zachery Eanes, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for liver 
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Noun
Boldo is associated with a number of risks, including pregnancy complications and organ damage, particularly of the liver and kidney.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
The couple was arrested on child abuse charges on New Year’s Day in 2021, after Joseph brought their 8-year-old daughter to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia, a staph infection and failure of the liver and kidneys, according to the arrest report obtained by WFTV.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
This forces the liver to take cholesterol from the blood to make more bile acid, lowering cholesterol levels.6
The drug can also bind other drugs, including vitamin D, in the stomach and intestines, lowering the amount of vitamin D in the body.
—Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 13 Jan. 2025
State of play: The company's first trials, which are set to begin in New Zealand and Hong Kong, focus on targeting hepatitis B and eliminating its ability to replicate in the liver.
—Zachery Eanes, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
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 22 Jan. 2025.
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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