small intestine

American  

noun

Anatomy.

• small intestines
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• small intestines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of small intestine

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

small intestine

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

The effect was largely limited to the small intestine because that is where most dietary protein is absorbed.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

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

The tumor in the small intestine is harder to measure.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr