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
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 June 2025
The toxins from the fungus cause liver damage, vomiting and reproductive defects in both livestock and humans.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 June 2025
This includes people who don’t spend a lot of time in the sun, are over the age of 65, have a darker skin tone or live with certain chronic conditions that could cause malabsorption issues (such Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic kidney disease or liver disease).
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 28 May 2025
Your body—specifically your liver, kidneys, and pancreas—produces it from three amino acids, a.k.a., the building blocks of protein.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for liver
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Noun
Its toxins can cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in both humans and livestock, the release noted.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 June 2025
The toxins from the fungus cause liver damage, vomiting and reproductive defects in both livestock and humans.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 June 2025
This includes people who don’t spend a lot of time in the sun, are over the age of 65, have a darker skin tone or live with certain chronic conditions that could cause malabsorption issues (such Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic kidney disease or liver disease).
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 28 May 2025
Your body—specifically your liver, kidneys, and pancreas—produces it from three amino acids, a.k.a., the building blocks of protein.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for liver
Cite this Entry
“Liver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liver. Accessed 12 Jun. 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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