# bowel

/ˈbaʊəɫ/ (US) · /bˈaʊəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bowel
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. intestines

noun · CEFR B2

the long tube in your body that processes food and carries waste away.

For teachers: the part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestines, particularly the large intestine.

- The doctor asked if he had been having regular bowel movements lately.
- Chronic inflammation of the bowel can lead to significant discomfort and requires a carefully managed diet to avoid flare-ups.

Usage: Often used in the medical phrase 'bowel movement' to refer to the act of passing waste.

### 2. deep interior

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the deepest or most hidden parts of something, like a building or a ship.

For teachers: the deep or innermost parts of a physical structure or geographic feature.

- The engineers spent all day working in the dark bowels of the ship.
- Deep within the bowels of the old library, researchers discovered a collection of manuscripts that had been forgotten for centuries.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'bowels' when referring to interiors.

### 3. pity or mercy

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old way of talking about a person's ability to feel pity or kindness.

For teachers: the seat of pity or the gentler emotions; the capacity for mercy.

- The cruel king showed no bowels of compassion for his prisoners.
- The poet appealed to the judge's bowels of mercy, hoping for a lighter sentence for the impoverished thief.

Teaching tip: This sense is found almost exclusively in historical literature or religious texts like the King James Bible.

### 4. to remove organs

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to take the internal organs out of a person or animal.

For teachers: to eviscerate or disembowel a creature.

- The hunters would bowel the deer immediately after the catch.
- In ancient times, certain execution methods involved the public act of bowelling the condemned while they were still alive.

## Examples

- He felt a sharp pain in his bowel.
- The doctor checked his bowel movements to diagnose the cause of the pain.
- A healthy diet rich in fiber supports regular bowel function and reduces the risk of digestive disorders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.