intestine
Americannoun
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intestines
plural
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Usually intestines. the lower part of the alimentary canal, extending from the pylorus to the anus.
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Also called small intestine. the narrow, longer part of the intestines, comprising the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, that serves to digest and absorb nutrients.
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Also called large intestine. the broad, shorter part of the intestines, comprising the cecum, colon, and rectum, that absorbs water from and eliminates the residues of digestion.
adjective
noun
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The muscular tube that forms the part of the digestive tract extending from the stomach to the anus and consisting of the small and large intestines. In the intestine, nutrients and water from digested food are absorbed and waste products are solidified into feces.
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See also large intestine small intestine
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of intestine
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin intestīnum, noun use of neuter of intestīnus “internal,” equivalent to intes- (variant of intus “inside”) + -tīnus adjective suffix; cf. vespertine
Explanation
When you eat food, it first passes into your stomach, and then into your intestine. Fun fact: your large intestine is about five feet long. Makes you wonder why they don't call it your "long intestine" instead. The human intestine is split into two sections: the small intestine and the large intestine. Your intestine's job is to continue breaking down the food you've eaten and absorb nutrients into your bloodstream. Intestine comes from the Latin word intestinum, "gut" or "bowels," which is the neuter form of the adjective intestinus, "inward" or "internal."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
While the ketogenic diet promoted tumor development in the small intestine, it suppressed tumor formation in the colon.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
When he finally woke up, in an intensive care unit in Oklahoma City, about 90 miles northeast of Comanche, he learned that surgeons had removed 13 inches of his small intestine during emergency surgery.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
A last-minute check of an encyclopedia revealed that it also means part of the intestine, the thing poop moves through, so the “te” was dropped.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
"There's an intestine detached from the rest of the body, surrounded by tendrils of blood vessels from the yolk."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026
Finally they bought a waterproof cape that enveloped her completely, made of semitransparent seal intestine.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
The researchers concentrated their analysis on mesenteric adipose tissue, which surrounds the intestines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Protein fermentation occurs when bacteria in the intestines begin breaking down protein rather than fiber because available dietary fiber has already been used.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
If food remains in the intestines longer, bacteria have more time to turn to protein fermentation.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
The heat-loving parasite infects the intestines and is transmitted through faecal contamination.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Mother cleaned the intestines, later to be cooked with spices and rice.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
