digestive

American  

[dih-jes-tiv, dahy-] / dɪˈdʒɛs tɪv, daɪ- /

adjective

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

   the digestive tract.

2. promoting digestion.

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noun

1. a substance promoting digestion.

digestive British  

/ dɪˈdʒɛstɪv, daɪˈdʒɛstənt, daɪ- /

adjective

1. relating to, aiding, or subjecting to digestion

   a digestive enzyme

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noun

1. a less common word for digestant

2. short for digestive biscuit

Other Word Forms

• digestively adverb
• nondigestive adjective
• postdigestive adjective

Etymology

Origin of digestive

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

Example Sentences

The other was the vagus nerve, a key communication route between the brain and internal organs such as the lungs and digestive system.

From Science Daily

It can involve the brain, heart, lungs and digestive system.

From Science Daily

Muscle fibers guide physical force, intestinal fibers support the motion of the digestive tract, and brain fibers carry electrical signals that allow different regions to exchange information.

From Science Daily

Her phone was kept on silent; electro-beats hummed in the background; digestive biscuits were devoured.

From BBC

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

From Science Daily