small intestine

American  

noun

Anatomy.

small intestines plural

1. intestine.

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small intestine British  

noun

1. the longest part of the alimentary canal, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, in which digestion is completed Compare large intestine

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small intestine Scientific  

1. The long, narrow, coiled section of the intestine that extends from the stomach to the beginning of the large intestine. Nutrients from food are absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. In mammals, it is made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

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small intestine Cultural  

1. The upper portion of the intestines, extending from the stomach to the large intestine, where the digestion of food takes place. The small intestine is about twenty feet long in adults.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• small intestines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of small intestine

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

In a new study, scientists found that cysteine can activate an immune response that boosts intestinal stem cells and helps regenerate tissue in the small intestine.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

The treatment targets the small intestine, where many of the hormones affected by GLP-1 drugs are produced.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

When sections of the small intestine become diseased or die, surgeons often must remove the damaged tissue.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

But he was saved by three major surgeries in which most of his small intestine was removed.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

After that a piece of his small intestine had to go.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols