gut

¹

[guht]

noun

1. the alimentary canal, especially between the pylorus and the anus, or some portion of it.

2. guts,

   1. bowels or entrails.

   2. Informal.,  courage and fortitude; nerve; determination; stamina.

      Climbing that cliff takes a lot of guts.

   3. the inner working parts of a machine or device.

      The mechanic had the guts of the refrigerator laid out on the kitchen floor.

3. the belly; stomach; abdomen.

4. the substance forming the case of the intestine; intestinal tissue or fiber.

   sheep's gut.

5. a preparation of the intestines of an animal, used for various purposes, as for violin strings, tennis rackets, or fishing lines.

6. the silken substance taken from a silkworm killed when about to spin its cocoon, used in making snells for fishhooks.

7. a narrow passage, as a channel of water or a defile between hills.

8. Slang.,  Also gut course snap course.

verb (used with object)

gutted, gutting 

1. to take out the guts or entrails of; disembowel.

2. to destroy the interior of.

   Fire gutted the building.

3. to plunder (a house, city, etc.) of contents.

   Invaders gutted the village.

4. to remove the vital or essential parts from.

   The prisoner's letters were gutted by heavy censorship.

adjective

1. Informal.

   1. basic or essential.

      to discuss the gut issues.

   2. based on instincts or emotions.

      a gut reaction; gut decisions.

GUT

²

Physics.

1. grand unification theory.

gut

¹

/ ɡʌt /

noun

1. 1. the lower part of the alimentary canal; intestine

   2. the entire alimentary canal

2. (often plural) the bowels or entrails, esp of an animal

3. slang,  the belly; paunch

4. See catgut

5. a silky fibrous substance extracted from silkworms, used in the manufacture of fishing tackle

6. a narrow channel or passage

7. informal,  (plural) courage, willpower, or daring; forcefulness

8. informal,  (plural) the essential part

   the guts of a problem

9. informal,  to make an intense effort

10. informal,  to be extremely angry with someone

11. informal,  to dislike a person very strongly

12. informal,  to work very hard

verb

1. to remove the entrails from (fish, etc)

2. (esp of fire) to destroy the inside of (a building)

3. to plunder; despoil

   the raiders gutted the city

4. to take out the central points of (an article), esp in summary form

adjective

1. informal,  arising from or characterized by what is basic, essential, or natural

   a gut problem

   a gut reaction

GUT

²

/ ɡʌt /

acronym

1. grand unified theory

gut

¹

1. The intestine of a vertebrate animal.

2. The alimentary canal of an invertebrate animal.

3. The tube in a vertebrate embryo that later develops into the alimentary canal, lungs, and liver.

GUT

²

1. Abbreviation of grand unified theory See unified field theory

Other Word Forms

• gutlike adjective
• ungutted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gut¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English gut, guttes (plural), Old English guttas (plural), akin to gēotan “to pour”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gut¹

Old English gutt; related to gēotan to flow; see _fusion

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. spill one's guts, to tell all; lay oneself bare; confess everything.

   The celebrity chef spills his guts in his autobiography.

More idioms and phrases containing gut

• bust a gut
• hate someone's guts
• have the guts

Example Sentences

James Van Der Beek is “gutted” he is missing the live “Dawson’s Creek” reunion, which reportedly sold out in 12 minutes last month.

From Los Angeles Times

The true gut punch came when I ran into the store for birdseed and walked straight into a wall of school supplies where beach towels and sunscreen had been.

From Salon

There’s no magic formula for knowing when —or if — to euthanize a beloved pet, but preparation and trusting your gut can help smooth the way.

From Los Angeles Times

They will take the game to Spurs, and my gut feeling is they will take the win, too.

From BBC

These violative space abominations force embryos down their victims’ throats to gestate inside their guts before bursting through their torsos.

From Salon

Related Words

• decimate 
• empty 
• eviscerate 
• loot 
• ransack 
• ravage