What does "abdomen" mean?

1. (the belly area) the part of your body between your chest and your hips that contains your stomach and other organs. 2. (in insects and spiders) the back part of an insect's or spider's body.

How do you use "abdomen"?

In medical contexts, it refers specifically to the cavity; in everyday English, 'stomach' is more common.

abdomen

US //ˈæbdəmən// UK //ˈæbdəmən// ab·domen

1 the belly area (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

the part of your body between your chest and your hips that contains your stomach and other organs.

the region of the body between the thorax and the pelvis, containing the digestive and reproductive organs.

Example

The patient complained of a sharp pain in his lower abdomen after eating.

Example

The surgeon made a small incision in the lower abdomen to access the appendix while minimizing damage to the surrounding muscle tissue.

Usage

In medical contexts, it refers specifically to the cavity; in everyday English, 'stomach' is more common.
2 in insects and spiders (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Science

the back part of an insect's or spider's body.

the posterior section of the body in arthropods, located behind the thorax or cephalothorax.

Example

You can identify this spider by the bright red spot on its abdomen.

Example

The wasp's abdomen is connected to the thorax by a narrow waist, allowing for significant flexibility when the insect uses its stinger.
- tail section
- posterior
- thorax
- head

Origin

First attested in 1541. Borrowed from Middle French abdomen, from Latin abdomen, possibly from abdō (“conceal”), from ab (“away”) + -dō (“put, place”).