abdomen
Americannoun
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Anatomy, Zoology.
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the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis; belly.
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the cavity of this part of the body containing the stomach, intestines, etc.
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(in nonmammalian vertebrates) a region of the body corresponding to, but not coincident with, this part or cavity.
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Entomology. the posterior section of the body of an arthropod, behind the thorax or the cephalothorax.
noun
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the region of the body of a vertebrate that contains the viscera other than the heart and lungs. In mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm
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the front or surface of this region; belly
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(in arthropods) the posterior part of the body behind the thorax, consisting of up to ten similar segments
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In vertebrates, the portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis, containing the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs. In mammals, the abdomen is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm.
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In arthropods, the last, most posterior segment of the body.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abdomen
1535–45; (< Middle French ) < Latin abdōmen belly
Explanation
Your abdomen is the middle part of the front of your body, between your chest area and your pelvis. If the doctor asks if your abdomen hurts, the doctor wants to know if you have any pain in your belly area. The word abdomen is also the name used for the cavity, enclosed by the abdominal muscles, that contains the organs in the abdominal area. The abdomen's contents in humans include your stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, and kidneys. The word abdomen is sometimes shortened to abs, especially in infomercials and health clubs when referring to the muscles of your abdomen and how you should want flat ones.
Vocabulary lists containing abdomen
Gross, Anatomy!
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Counting by 7s
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Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I started to have the worst stomach pains – like a stabbing pain in the middle of my abdomen," she said.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
For most adults, this means aiming to do muscle strengthening activities at least once or twice a week, targeting the major muscle groups of the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
Some specimens preserve flap-like structures on the abdomen resembling features seen in modern crustaceans such as lobsters, raising the possibility that the giant scorpion could move between water and land.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026
Just days after the birth, she began to suffer severe pain and swelling in her abdomen but says her symptoms were downplayed.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“His hands are wheels of gold, set with chrysolite; his abdomen is a block of ivory, overlaid with sapphires.”
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
