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bilious

[ bil-yuhs ]
/ ˈbɪl yəs /
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See synonyms for: bilious / biliousness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
Physiology, Pathology. relating to bile or to an excess secretion of bile.
Pathology. having, caused by, or attended by trouble with the bile or liver.
peevish; irritable; cranky.
extremely unpleasant or distasteful: a long scarf of bright, bilious green.
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Origin of bilious

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin bīliōsus; see origin at bile, -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM bilious

Words nearby bilious

bilinear transformation, bilineate, bilingual, bilingual education, bilingualism, bilious, bilirachia, bilirubin, bilirubinemia, bilirubin encephalopathy, bilirubinoid
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to bilious

anxious, fidgety, groggy, restless, sickly, squeamish, uncomfortable, uneasy, ailing, cranky, feeble, infirm, lackluster, morose, emaciated, wan, dull, jaundiced, muddy, pasty

How to use bilious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bilious

bilious
/ (ˈbɪlɪəs) /
adjective
of or relating to bile
affected with or denoting any disorder related to excess secretion of bile
informal (esp of colours) extremely distasteful; nauseatinga bilious green
informal bad-tempered; irritable

Derived forms of bilious

biliousness, noun

Word Origin for bilious

C16: from Latin bīliōsus full of bile 1
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

Medical definitions for bilious

bilious
[ bĭl′yəs ]
adj.
Of, relating to, or containing bile; biliary.
Characterized by an excess secretion of bile.
Relating to, characterized by, or experiencing gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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