Your spleen is an organ near your stomach that controls the quality of your blood.
2. uncountable noun [usually poss NOUN]
Spleen is great and bitter anger.
[formal]
His latest book vents his spleen against everything he hates about his country.
There were other targets for Mr Livingston's spleen.
Synonyms: spite, anger, bitterness, hostility More Synonyms of spleen
spleen in British English
(spliːn)
noun
1.
a spongy, highly vascular organ situated near the stomach in humans. It forms lymphocytes, produces antibodies, aids in destroying worn-out red blood cells, and filters bacteria and foreign particles from the blood
▶ Related adjectives: lienal, splenetic, splenic
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
Derived forms
spleenish (ˈspleenish) or spleeny (ˈspleeny)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French esplen, from Latin splēn, from Greek; related to Latin lien spleen
spleen in American English
(splin)
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
2.
a.
malice; spite; bad temper
b. Archaic
melancholy; low spirits
c. Obsolete
a whim or caprice
Word origin
ME splen < OFr esplen < L splen < Gr splēn, spleen < IE *sp(h)elĝh- > Sans plīhan, OSlav slězena, spleen
Examples of 'spleen' in a sentence
spleen
You can vent your spleen on somebody who is not the real target.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It pierced his left lung and spleen.
The Sun (2011)
Some also have lung symptoms and may have an enlarged liver or spleen.
The Sun (2014)
They just go to matches to vent their spleen.
The Sun (2009)
Sounds like an open invitation for internet trolls to vent their spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There are ways we can engage culture that may make us feel good because we vent our spleen.
Christianity Today (2000)
He died of a ruptured spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The free trade enthusiast had grown to loathe the corn laws so much he set up a magazine to vent his spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They said his spleen was enlarged, which was causing his belly to swell.
The Sun (2012)
The recycled iron is stored in the liver, spleen and bone marrow until needed.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
He'd suffered massive blood loss because of a ruptured spleen.
The Sun (2013)
She fractured her ribs and pelvis, ruptured her spleen and suffered liver damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It can occur anywhere but most often hits the neck, liver or spleen.
The Sun (2009)
The ferocious and sometimes shambolic stand-up returns to vent his spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He suffered injuries to his kidneys and spleen and may lose his left arm - if he survives.
The Sun (2008)
I was rushed to hospital with a suspected ruptured spleen.
The Sun (2014)
They told me his liver and spleen had been affected by the virus and it was likely he'd die with liver failure.
The Sun (2014)
He lost both legs, his left eye and spleen and needed 87 pints of blood.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She suffered head injuries, a ruptured spleen, punctured lung and a displaced eye socket.
The Sun (2011)
Death is caused by respiratory failure, or failure of the liver, spleen and kidneys.
The Sun (2015)
A post-mortem examination showed that his death was due to internal injuries and that he had suffered a ruptured spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So it was that in April, he suffered a ruptured spleen when a young horse kicked him.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
spleen
British English: spleen NOUN
Your spleen is an organ near your stomach that controls the quality of your blood.
American English: spleen
Brazilian Portuguese: baço
Chinese: 脾脏
European Spanish: bazo
French: rate
German: Milz
Italian: milza
Japanese: 脾臓
Korean: 비장
European Portuguese: baço
Latin American Spanish: bazo
(noun)
Definition
spitefulness or bad temper
There were other targets for his spleen.
Synonyms
spite
Never had she met such spite and pettiness.
anger
He cried with anger and frustration.
bitterness
I still feel bitterness and anger.
hostility
She looked at Ron with open hostility.
hatred
He has been accused of stirring up hatred between nations.
resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.
wrath
gall
all gall and wormwood
malice
There was no malice on his part.
animosity
There's a long history of animosity between the two nations.
venom
There was no mistaking the venom in his voice.
bile
He aims his bile at religion, drugs and politics.
bad temper
acrimony
The council's first meeting ended in acrimony.
pique
rancour
`That's too bad,' he said without rancour.
ill will
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
animus
He displayed a thorough animus to the Western tradition.
malevolence
His actions betrayed a rare streak of malevolence.
vindictiveness
malignity
spitefulness
ill humour
peevishness
related words
related adjectivesspleneticspleniclienal
Seebile
Nearby words of
spleen
splash
splash out
splatter
spleen
splendid
splendour
splenetic
Synonyms of 'spleen'
spleen
Explore 'spleen' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animus
Definition
intense dislike
He displayed a thorough animus to the Western tradition.
Synonyms
ill will,
hate,
hostility,
hatred,
resentment,
bitterness,
malice,
animosity,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
malevolence,
virulence,
malignity
in the sense of bile
Definition
irritability or peevishness
He aims his bile at religion, drugs and politics.
Synonyms
bitterness,
anger,
hostility,
resentment,
animosity,
venom,
irritability,
spleen,
acrimony,
pique,
nastiness,
rancour,
virulence,
asperity,
ill humour,
irascibility,
peevishness,
churlishness
in the sense of bitterness
I still feel bitterness and anger.
Synonyms
resentment,
hurt,
anger,
hostility,
indignation,
animosity,
venom,
acrimony,
gall,
pique,
rancour,
ill feeling,
bad blood,
ill will,
umbrage,
vexation,
asperity
in the sense of gall
Definition
a feeling of great bitterness
all gall and wormwood
Synonyms
bitterness,
spite,
resentment,
hostility,
malice,
animosity,
venom,
bile,
antipathy,
spleen,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
animus,
malevolence,
sourness,
malignity
in the sense of hatred
Definition
intense dislike
He has been accused of stirring up hatred between nations.
Synonyms
hate,
dislike,
animosity,
aversion,
revulsion,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
abomination,
ill will,
animus,
repugnance,
odium (formal),
detestation,
execration
in the sense of hostility
Definition
unfriendly and aggressive feelings or behaviour
She looked at Ron with open hostility.
Synonyms
unfriendliness,
hatred,
animosity,
spite,
bitterness,
malice,
venom,
antagonism,
enmity,
abhorrence,
malevolence,
detestation
in the sense of ill humour
Synonyms
irascibility,
sulks,
sharpness,
irritability,
spleen,
pique,
petulance,
bate (British, slang),
moodiness,
tartness,
grumpiness,
testiness,
moroseness,
sulkiness,
crossness,
crabbiness,
disagreeableness,
(bad) mood,
(bad) temper,
foulie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of ill will
Definition
unkind feeling
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
Synonyms
hostility,
spite,
dislike,
hatred,
envy,
resentment,
grudge,
malice,
animosity,
aversion,
venom,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
hard feelings,
animus,
malevolence,
unfriendliness
in the sense of malevolence
His actions betrayed a rare streak of malevolence.
Synonyms
malice,
hate,
spite,
hatred,
nastiness,
rancour,
ill will,
vindictiveness,
malignity,
spitefulness,
vengefulness,
maliciousness
in the sense of malice
Definition
the desire to do harm or cause mischief to others
There was no malice on his part.
Synonyms
spite,
animosity,
enmity,
hate,
hatred,
bitterness,
venom,
spleen,
rancour,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
vindictiveness,
evil intent,
malignity,
spitefulness,
vengefulness,
maliciousness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rancour
Definition
deep bitter hate
`That's too bad,' he said without rancour.
Synonyms
hatred,
hate,
spite,
hostility,
resentment,
bitterness,
grudge,
malice,
animosity,
venom,
antipathy,
spleen,
enmity,
ill feeling,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
malignity,
chip on your shoulder (informal),
resentfulness
in the sense of resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.
Synonyms
bitterness,
indignation,
ill feeling,
ill will,
hurt,
anger,
rage,
fury,
irritation,
grudge,
wrath,
malice,
animosity,
huff,
ire,
displeasure,
pique,
rancour,
bad blood,
umbrage,
vexation,
gall,
chip on your shoulder (informal)
in the sense of venom
Definition
a feeling of great bitterness or anger towards someone