Organ vs. Piano — What's the Difference?

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

The piano is an acoustic, stringed musical instrument invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori around the year 1700 (the exact year is uncertain), in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboard, which is a row of keys (small levers) that the performer presses down or strikes with the fingers and thumbs of both hands to cause the hammers to strike the strings.

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 large keyboard musical instrument with a wooden case enclosing a soundboard and metal strings, which are struck by hammers when the keys are depressed. The strings' vibration is stopped by dampers when the keys are released and can be regulated for length and volume by two or three pedals.

A department or organization that performs a specified function

A passage performed or marked to be performed softly.

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.

(especially as a direction) soft or softly.

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

(especially as a direction) soft or softly.

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

A musical instrument with a manual keyboard actuating hammers that strike wire strings, producing sounds that may be softened or sustained by means of pedals.

An instrument or agency dedicated to the performance of specified functions

A passage to be played softly or quietly.

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

In a soft or quiet tone. Used chiefly as a direction.

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

(musical instruments) a percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings

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

To play the piano.

(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.

(of or with fingers) To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.

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

To equip with a piano.

A government organization; agency; authority.

To become softer and less intense.

(slang) The penis.

(music) softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music)

An Asian form of mitrailleuse.

(music) Soft, quiet.

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

(in extended use) Gentle, soft, subdued.

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.

Soft; - a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.

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 well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the harpsichord, and consisting of a series of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys.

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 stringed instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

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.

(music) low loudness

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.

Used chiefly as a direction or description in music;

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

Used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly

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