Word
digestion
Phoneticsdi·ges·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/daɪˈdʒɛstʃən/
UK/daɪdʒˈɛstʃən/
Definitions
01breaking down food
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. the way your body breaks down food into small pieces so it can use the energy.
n. the physiological process in the gastrointestinal tract by which food is converted into absorbable substances.
“Eating slowly can help improve your digestion and prevent stomach pain.”
“The patient complained of chronic indigestion, suggesting that the natural enzymes required for efficient digestion were not being produced in sufficient quantities.”
Synonyms
02understanding ideas
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the process of thinking about new information until you fully understand it.
n. the mental assimilation and processing of ideas or information.
“Some books require slow reading and careful digestion to understand the main point.”
“After the intense three-day seminar, the executives needed time for the digestion of the complex new strategies before they could implement them.”
Synonyms
03organic decay
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the process where tiny living things break down waste or natural materials.
n. the decomposition of organic matter, often assisted by microorganisms in a controlled environment.
“The plant uses anaerobic digestion to turn food waste into green energy.”
“Anaerobic digestion in the treatment facility converts sewage sludge into biogas, providing a sustainable method for managing municipal waste.”
Synonyms
04chemical dissolving
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. dissolving a solid sample into a liquid using heat and strong chemicals.
n. the process of dissolving a sample into a solution using acid and heat for chemical analysis.
“The scientist performed an acid digestion to test the soil for heavy metals.”
“Complete digestion of the mineral sample was achieved by heating it in concentrated nitric acid for several hours within a sealed vessel.”
Synonyms
Usage
Typically uncountable when referring to the biological process; can be countable when referring to a specific instance or type of the process.
Real-World Examples
“In fact, it was the answer to all of the strange health problems she had been experiencing for years - issues with digestion, fatigue, and pain.” “Methane is produced by microbes within a cow's stomach during digestion (known as enteric methane), and most of it is breathed out into the atmosphere.” Etymology
From Old French digestion. Partly displaced native Old English melting (“melting, digestion”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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