bile

American  

[bahyl] / baɪl /

noun

1. Physiology. a bitter, alkaline, yellow or greenish liquid, secreted by the liver, that aids in absorption and digestion, especially of fats.

2. ill temper; peevishness.

3. Old Physiology. either of two humors associated with anger and gloominess.

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bile ¹ British  

/ baɪl /

noun

1. a bitter greenish to golden brown alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. It is discharged during digestion into the duodenum, where it aids the emulsification and absorption of fats

2. irritability or peevishness

3. archaic either of two bodily humours, one of which ( black bile ) was thought to cause melancholy and the other ( yellow bile ) anger

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bile ² British  

/ bəɪl /

verb

1. a Scot word for boil 1

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bile Scientific  

/ bīl /

1. A bitter, alkaline, brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow fluid that is secreted by the liver, concentrated and stored in the gallbladder, and discharged into the duodenum of the small intestine. It helps in the digestion of fats and the neutralization of acids, such as the hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach. Bile consists of salts, acids, cholesterol, lipids, pigments, and water.

2. ◆ Bile salts help in the emulsification, digestion, and absorption of fats.

3. ◆ Bile pigments are waste products formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin from old red blood cells.

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bile Cultural  

1. A bitter fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile is discharged into the small intestine when needed to aid in the digestion of fats (see digestive system).

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Discover More

Bile is sometimes used figuratively to denote bitterness in general: “His writing was full of bile.”

Etymology

Origin of bile

First recorded in 1655–65; from French, from Latin bīlis; of disputed origin; compare Breton bestl, Medieval Cornish bystel, Welsh bustl

Example Sentences

Researchers observed several potential benefits, including higher levels of serotonin and reductions in inflammation, cholesterol, and toxic secondary bile acids.

From Science Daily

The back of her throat burned with bile.

From Literature

During the first month after transplantation, the pig liver graft performed well, producing bile and generating coagulation factors without signs of hyperacute or acute rejection.

From Science Daily

In the liver, it regulates the production of bile acids and also influences the synthesis of glucose and fats.

From Science Daily

To better understand these effects, the Salk team first analyzed human liver cancer biopsies to identify which bile acids were present.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• acrimony
• animosity
• animus
• antagonism
• bad blood
• bitterness
• enmity
• grudge
• harshness
• hatred
• hostility
• ill will
• malice
• resentment
• venom