Word
digestive
Phoneticsdi·ges·tive
US/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/
UK/daɪdʒˈɛstɪv/
Definitions
01relating to digestion
adj. relating to the process of breaking down food in your body.
adj. relating to or functioning in the physiological process of digestion.
“The doctor asked if I had any digestive problems after eating spicy food.”
“The digestive system involves a complex series of chemical and mechanical processes that convert food into absorbable nutrients.”
Technical
Usage
Commonly used in the compound noun 'digestive system'.
Synonyms
02a type of biscuit
n. a round, slightly sweet biscuit that is often eaten with tea.
n. a semi-sweet biscuit made from wholemeal flour, originally developed as an aid to digestion.
“He dipped his digestive into his tea until it was soft.”
“The host offered a selection of biscuits, including chocolate-covered digestives and shortbread, to accompany the afternoon tea service.”
British English
Teaching tip
In the UK and Ireland, this is a very common household term; in American English, it is less common and usually refers to the biological process.
Real-World Examples
“Coprolites can preserve clues about an ancient animal's diet, digestive system, and environment.” “Researchers have documented that weightlessness affects many parts of the digestive system , from the mouth to the intestines.” “Astronomers led by the University of Warwick have uncovered what they describe as a kind of cosmic digestive system around a black hole.” Etymology
From Old French digestif, from Late Latin dīgestīvus. Doublet of digestif.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Collocations
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/digestive