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liver

li·ver

UK/ˈlaɪvə(ɹ)/ US/ˈlɪvɚ/ common

noun

1.

large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes

2.

liver of an animal used as meat

3.

a person who has a special life style

  • “a high liver”
4.

someone who lives in a place

  • “a liver in cities”

Origin

From Middle English lyvere, lyver, from Old English lifer (“liver”), from Proto-West Germanic *libru, from Proto-Germanic *librō, from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to smear, smudge, stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *ley- (“to be slimy, be sticky, glide”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Líeuwer, Lieuwer (“liver”),German Leber (“liver”), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish, and West Frisian lever (“liver”), Faroese livur (“liver”), Icelandic lifur (“liver”). Related to live.

Phrases

  • bottom liver
  • cat liver fluke
  • chicken liver
  • chopped liver
  • cod liver oil
  • fatty liver
  • free liver
  • Fried Liver Attack
  • frosted liver
  • hobnail liver

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.