abdomen

[ab-duh-muhn, ab-doh-]

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis; belly.

   2. the cavity of this part of the body containing the stomach, intestines, etc.

   3. (in nonmammalian vertebrates) a region of the body corresponding to, but not coincident with, this part or cavity.

2. Entomology.,  the posterior section of the body of an arthropod, behind the thorax or the cephalothorax.

abdomen

/ æbˈdɒmɪnəl, æbˈdəʊ-, ˈæbdəmən /

noun

1. 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

2. the front or surface of this region; belly

3. (in arthropods) the posterior part of the body behind the thorax, consisting of up to ten similar segments

abdomen

1. 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.

2. In arthropods, the last, most posterior segment of the body.

abdomen

1. The part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis that encloses the organs of the abdominal cavity; the belly.

Other Word Forms

• postabdomen noun
• abdominally adverb
• abdominal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdomen¹

1535–45; (< Middle French ) < Latin abdōmen belly

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdomen¹

C16: from Latin; origin obscure

Example Sentences

Some decapods, like lobsters and shrimp, have a thick cylindrical abdomen with a muscular tail for snapping backwards at high speed and burrowing on the seabed.

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The independent report described how he had become agitated following a family visit and had stabbed himself in his abdomen with a pair of scissors.

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In 2019, this concluded that Ms Wanjiru had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers and that she had suffered stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

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He’d fled to Tijuana, where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his abdomen, according to the informant.

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Amiryan, who flung himself over his partner, was shot in the abdomen and arm.

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Related Words

• belly 
• gut 
• midriff 
• midsection 
• tummy