digestive

[dih-jes-tiv, dahy-]

adjective

1. serving for or pertaining to digestion; having the function of digesting food.

   the digestive tract.

2. promoting digestion.

noun

1. a substance promoting digestion.

digestive

/ dɪˈdʒɛstɪv, daɪˈdʒɛstənt, daɪ- /

adjective

1. relating to, aiding, or subjecting to digestion

   a digestive enzyme

noun

1. a less common word for digestant

2. short for digestive biscuit

Other Word Forms

• digestively adverb
• nondigestive adjective
• postdigestive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of digestive¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French digestif < Latin dīgestīvus, equivalent to dīgest ( us ) ( digest ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

This produced sturdy hydrogel microspheres that travel through the digestive tract and can be removed from stool with a magnet.

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They imitate a natural hormone released in the digestive tract after eating and signal the brain to reduce hunger.

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However, nausea and digestive discomfort appeared more often among people taking GLP-1 drugs, and some participants discontinued treatment because of these side effects.

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No serious adverse events were seen, although mild and short-lived stomach or digestive discomfort was more common among colchicine users.

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Instead, the main agents of colonization appear to be gulls, geese, and shorebirds, which carried seeds in their digestive systems or droppings.

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