Organ vs. Organelle — What's the Difference?

A part of an organism which is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function

In cell biology, an organelle is a specialized subunit, usually within a cell, that has a specific function. The name organelle comes from the idea that these structures are parts of cells, as organs are to the body, hence organelle, the suffix -elle being a diminutive.

A large musical instrument having rows of pipes supplied with air from bellows (now usually electrically powered), and played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism. The pipes are generally arranged in ranks of a particular type, each controlled by a stop, and often into larger sets linked to separate keyboards.

A differentiated structure within a cell, such as a mitochondrion, vacuole, or chloroplast, that performs a specific function.

A department or organization that performs a specified function

(cytology) A specialized structure found inside cells that carries out a specific life process (e.g. ribosomes, vacuoles).

An instrument consisting of a number of pipes that sound tones when supplied with air and a keyboard that operates a mechanism controlling the flow of air to the pipes. Also called pipe organ.

A specialized part of a cell performing a specific function, usually visible under the microscope as a distinct object; it is analogous to an organ{2}, but on a microscopic scale.

Any one of various other instruments, such as the electronic organ, that resemble a pipe organ either in mechanism or sound.

A specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ;

(Biology) A differentiated part of an organism, such as an eye, wing, or leaf, that performs a specific function.

An instrument or agency dedicated to the performance of specified functions

An instrument or means of communication, especially a periodical issued by a political party, business firm, or other group.

The larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions.

(by extension) A body of an organization dedicated to the performing of certain functions.

(musical instruments) A musical instrument that has multiple pipes which play when a key is pressed (the pipe organ), or an electronic instrument designed to replicate such.

An official magazine, newsletter, or similar publication of an organization.

A government organization; agency; authority.

(slang) The penis.

An Asian form of mitrailleuse.

To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs.

An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are organs of government.

A natural part or structure in an animal or a plant, capable of performing some special action (termed its function), which is essential to the life or well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are organs of plants.

A component part performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine.

A medium of communication between one person or body and another; as, the secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power; a newspaper is the organ of its editor, or of a party, sect, etc. A newsletter distributed within an organization is often called its house organ.

A wind instrument containing numerous pipes of various dimensions and kinds, which are filled with wind from a bellows, and played upon by means of keys similar to those of a piano, and sometimes by foot keys or pedals; - formerly used in the plural, each pipe being considered an organ.

To supply with an organ or organs; to fit with organs; to organize.

A fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function

A government agency or instrument devoted to the performance of some specific function;

(music) an electronic simulation of a pipe organ

A periodical that is published by a special interest group;

Wind instrument whose sound is produced by means of pipes arranged in sets supplied with air from a bellows and controlled from a large complex musical keyboard

A free-reed instrument in which air is forced through the reeds by bellows