spleen

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Old French esplen, from Latin splēn, from Ancient Greek σπλήν (splēn), “‘milt’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: splēn, IPA: /spliːn/, SAMPA: /spli:n/

  Rhymes: -iːn

[edit] Noun

spleen (plural spleens)

1. (anatomy, immunology) In vertebrates, including humans, a ductless vascular gland, located in the left upper abdomen near the stomach, which destroys old red blood cells, removes debris from the bloodstream, acts as a reservoir of blood, and produces lymphocytes.
2. (archaic, except in the set phrase "to vent one’s spleen") A bad mood; spitefulness.

[edit] Derived terms

spleenful spleeny splenectomy

splenetic splenic vent one's spleen

[edit] Related terms

• splenomegaly

[edit] Translations