spleen

[ spleen ]

noun

1. a highly vascular, glandular, ductless organ, situated in humans at the cardiac end of the stomach, serving chiefly in the formation of mature lymphocytes, in the destruction of worn-out red blood cells, and as a reservoir for blood.
2. Obsolete. this organ conceived of as the seat of spirit and courage or of such emotions as mirth, ill humor, melancholy, etc.
3. ill humor, peevish temper, or spite.

   Synonyms: acrimoniousness, anger, ire, wrath, rancor, petulance

4. Archaic. melancholy.
5. Obsolete. caprice.

spleen

/ spliːn /

noun

1. a spongy highly vascular organ situated near the stomach in man. It forms lymphocytes, produces antibodies, aids in destroying worn-out red blood cells, and filters bacteria and foreign particles from the blood lienalspleneticsplenic
2. the corresponding organ in other animals
3. spitefulness or ill humour; peevishness

   to vent one's spleen

4. archaic.
   the organ in the human body considered to be the seat of the emotions
5. archaic.
   another word for melancholy
6. obsolete.
   whim; mood

spleen

/ splēn /

1. An organ in vertebrate animals that in humans is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen is mainly composed of lymph nodes and blood vessels. It filters the blood, stores red blood cells (erythrocytes) and destroys old ones, and produces white blood cells (lymphocytes).

spleen

1. An organ in the lymphatic system , in the upper left part of the abdomen , that filters out harmful substances from the blood . The spleen also produces white blood cells , removes worn-out red blood cells from circulation, and maintains a reserve blood supply for the body.

Derived Forms

• ˈspleenish, adjective

Other Words From

• spleenish adjective
• un·spleenish adjective
• un·spleenish·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spleen¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin splēn < Greek splḗn; akin to Sanskrit plīhan, Latin liēn spleen

Word History and Origins

Origin of spleen¹

C13: from Old French esplen, from Latin splēn, from Greek; related to Latin lien spleen

Idioms and Phrases

see vent one's spleen .

Example Sentences

Phages are rapidly filtered out of the blood by the liver and spleen, but they can also reproduce, making it hard to determine the right dose.

From Salon

The researchers found that zinc-deficient mice had increased A. baumannii bacterial burden in the lungs, spread of bacteria to the spleen, and higher mortality compared to mice with adequate dietary zinc consumption.

From Science Daily

The two boys were discovered in their beds a few minutes later and had suffered skull fractures and injuries to their ribs, spleen, a punctured lung and internal bleeding.

From BBC

It was once thought that the only place in the body where endometriosis did not occur was the spleen, but in 2020 it was found there also.

From BBC

One was brittle-boned and mostly blind; another was missing a spleen.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ill humor
• ill temper
• peevishness