viscera

American  

[vis-er-uh] / ˈvɪs ər ə /

plural noun

singular

viscus

1. Anatomy, Zoology. the organs in the cavities of the body, especially those in the abdominal cavity.

2. (not used scientifically) the intestines; bowels.

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viscera British  

/ ˈvɪsərə /

plural noun

1. anatomy the large internal organs of the body collectively, esp those in the abdominal cavity

2. (less formally) the intestines; guts

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viscera Scientific  

/ vĭs′ər-ə /

1. The soft internal organs of the body, especially those contained within the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

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Etymology

Origin of viscera

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin: literally “soft, fleshy parts of a body, internal organs, meat” plural of viscus

Example Sentences

Like a lot of rock's new generation – Nova Twins, Halestorm, Yungblud – she sees no distinction between the shiny allure of a pop hook and the meaty viscera of heavy metal.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2024

The first two were great fun, and apparently being subsumed into the distended viscera of the MCU won’t stop “Deadpool and Wolverine” or whatever from being R-rated fun.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2024

Their efforts help improve our understanding of Earth’s viscera, of Iceland’s volcanic cadence, and of this peninsula’s volcanic dangers.

From National Geographic • Jul. 24, 2023

“With its outré images and pulsating shots of human viscera, ‘Crimes of the Future’ is clearly meant to shock, as well as reference very real anxieties about technology, genetics and environmental degradation.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2023

Canned jazz blared through the street with a mon-strous high-strutting rhythm that pulled at the viscera.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin