ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intestine

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnˈtɛstən// UK //ɪntˈɛstɪn// in·tes·tine Archaic

n. the long tube in your body that carries food away from your stomach. It helps your body take in nutrients and get rid of waste.

n. the long, tubular portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus. Often divided into small and large sections to distinguish between nutrient absorption and water reabsorption.


SIMPLE

The doctor says my small intestine is healthy.

CONTEXTUAL

Nutrients from your meal are absorbed into the bloodstream as food passes through the walls of the small intestine.

COMPLEX

While the small intestine is responsible for the majority of chemical digestion, the large intestine primarily focuses on absorbing water and transmitting useless waste material from the body.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Latin intestīnum, neuter of intestīnus (“internal”), as Etymology 2, below.

Etymology 2

From Latin intestīnus (“internal”), from intus (“within”).

Usage

Commonly used in the plural ('intestines') when referring to the organ system as a whole.

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