definitions

alimentary

[ al-uh-men-tuh-ree ]
/ ˌæl əˈmɛn tə ri /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alimentary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

concerned with the function of nutrition; nutritive.
pertaining to food.
providing sustenance or maintenance.

RELATED WORDS

comestible, digestible, nourishing, nutrient, nutritious, salutary, nutritive, dietary, nutritional, peptic, sustaining, sustentative

Nearby words

alignment chart, alignment curve, aligoté, alike, aliment, alimentary, alimentary canal, alimentary glycosuria, alimentary lipemia, alimentary pentosuria, alimentary system

Origin of alimentary

From the Latin word alimentārius, dating back to 1605–15. See aliment, -ary
Related formsun·al·i·men·ta·ry, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alimentary

British Dictionary definitions for alimentary

alimentary

/ (ˌælɪˈmɛntərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

of or relating to nutrition
providing sustenance or nourishment
Scots law free from the claims of creditorsan alimentary trust
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for alimentary

alimentary

adj.

1610s, from Medieval Latin alimentarius "pertaining to food," from Latin alimentum "nourishment," from alere "to nourish, rear, support, maintain," from PIE root *al- "to grow, nourish" (see old).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for alimentary

alimentary

[ ăl′ə-mĕn′tə-rē, -trē ]

adj.

Concerned with food, nutrition, or digestion.
Providing nourishment.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.