intestine
Americannoun
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intestines
plural
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Usually intestines. the lower part of the alimentary canal, extending from the pylorus to the anus.
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Also called small intestine. the narrow, longer part of the intestines, comprising the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, that serves to digest and absorb nutrients.
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Also called large intestine. the broad, shorter part of the intestines, comprising the cecum, colon, and rectum, that absorbs water from and eliminates the residues of digestion.
adjective
noun
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The muscular tube that forms the part of the digestive tract extending from the stomach to the anus and consisting of the small and large intestines. In the intestine, nutrients and water from digested food are absorbed and waste products are solidified into feces.
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See also large intestine small intestine
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of intestine
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin intestīnum, noun use of neuter of intestīnus “internal,” equivalent to intes- (variant of intus “inside”) + -tīnus adjective suffix; cf. vespertine
Explanation
When you eat food, it first passes into your stomach, and then into your intestine. Fun fact: your large intestine is about five feet long. Makes you wonder why they don't call it your "long intestine" instead. The human intestine is split into two sections: the small intestine and the large intestine. Your intestine's job is to continue breaking down the food you've eaten and absorb nutrients into your bloodstream. Intestine comes from the Latin word intestinum, "gut" or "bowels," which is the neuter form of the adjective intestinus, "inward" or "internal."
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.
See Examples For:
The lactase enzyme is predominantly at the tip of the villi, or the small hairs in the small intestine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
"Our findings suggest that the order in which nutrients reach the gut can engage a coordinated hormone-nerve response that changes how quickly the stomach delivers glucose to the intestine," says Yabe.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The first is slower gastric emptying, which means food moves from the stomach into the small intestine more gradually.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
When he finally woke up, in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma City, about 90 miles northeast of Comanche, he learned that surgeons had removed 13 inches of his small intestine during emergency surgery.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
After a long piece of his intestine was removed, Dad confounded everybody by going back to work in a month.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Unlike fat that accumulates directly beneath the skin, visceral fat lies deep within the abdominal cavity, surrounding organs such as the liver and intestines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The researchers concentrated their analysis on mesenteric adipose tissue, which surrounds the intestines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Bowel sounds are produced as gas and fluid move through the intestines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026
Using modern analytical techniques, researchers identified several internal organs, including the stomach, liver and intestines.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
After the tail was cut off—as a trophy for the conqueror—nothing was left to waste: the meat was dried, the heart smoked, the intestines made into sausages.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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