small intestine

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. intestine.

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small intestine British  

noun

1. the longest part of the alimentary canal, consisting of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, in which digestion is completed Compare large intestine

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small intestine Scientific  

1. The long, narrow, coiled section of the intestine that extends from the stomach to the beginning of the large intestine. Nutrients from food are absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. In mammals, it is made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

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small intestine Cultural  

1. The upper portion of the intestines, extending from the stomach to the large intestine, where the digestion of food takes place. The small intestine is about twenty feet long in adults.

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Etymology

Origin of small intestine

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The treatment targets the small intestine, where many of the hormones affected by GLP-1 drugs are produced.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

It damages the small intestine so the body cannot properly take in nutrients.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

In humans, intelectin-2 is consistently produced by Paneth cells in the small intestine.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

Only part of the sugar is absorbed in the small intestine, while much of it is fermented by gut bacteria in the colon.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

After that a piece of his small intestine had to go.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols