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spleen Definition

spleen (splēn)

noun

  1. a large, vascular, lymphatic organ in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity of vertebrates, near the stomach: it has various functions in modifying the structure of the blood, and was formerly regarded as the seat of certain emotions
    1. malice; spite; bad temper
    2. Archaic melancholy; low spirits
    3. Obsolete a whim or caprice

Etymology: ME splen < OFr esplen < L splen < Gr splēn, spleen < IE *sp(h)elĝh- > Sans plīhan, OSlav slězena, spleen

spleen Synonyms

spleen

n.

spleen Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • mouse: We previously demonstrated the selective presence of 5T2MM cells in bone marrow and spleen of diseased mice.

Converse of object

  • vent: Whilst sat at my PC, Marble decided to vent spleen.
  • remove: People who have had their spleen removed will need to take medication to increase their body's defense against infection.
  • have: Toward the end she had an enlarged spleen, pains, fever, pains toward the shoulder.
  • include: The accident as far as my memory can go back rendered the rider with various injuries including a ruptured spleen.
  • contain: The Southwood Working Party had not thought that the risk justified labeling products containing spleen or brain, let alone banning them.
  • use: In July 1988 Spillers stopped using bovine spleen in its products and replaced it with liver.

Adjective modifier

  • ruptured: Key top execs a ruptured spleen buying a home.
  • vented: Posted by BaronM on Wed 17 Sep, 2003 | Vented spleen ( 1 ) Comments Wow.
  • enlarged: Toward the end she had an enlarged spleen, pains, fever, pains toward the shoulder.
  • dysfunctional: Conclusion Infection in patients with an absent or dysfunctional spleen remains largely preventable.
  • large: I never had a waistline in the past but it was even more pronounced by my very large spleen.
  • own: Perhaps I should be asking, ' do you still own your own spleen?

Modifies a noun

  • removal: A A small number of lupus patients undergo spleen removal.
  • cell: These latter studies will require examination of spleen cells obtained from the mice at post-mortem.
  • volume: Liver and spleen volume decreased and bone structure improved.
  • size: However Dr. Kaplan lowers the dose as the children improve in their spleen size, blood counts and bones.
  • tissue: This was significant in that infectivity of spleen tissue with BSE agent could be shown once the species barrier had been passed.
  • function: Its bitterness is a tonic to liver and spleen function.

Noun used with modifier

  • mouse: The plan was to fuse white cells taken from mouse spleen with the cancerous cells.
spleen Quotes

Kind pity chokes my spleen.

—Donne,John

Browse dictionary entries near spleen

  1. splayfoot
  2. splayed
  3. splay
  4. splatter
  5. splat
  6. splashy
  7. splashdown
  8. splashboard
  9. splash guard
  10. splash
  1. spleenful
  2. spleenwort
  3. splen-
  4. splendent
  5. splendid
  6. splendidly
  7. splendiferous
  8. splendor
  9. splendour
  10. splenectomy