bile

bile

noun \ˈbī(-ə)l\

Definition of BILE

1

a : either of two humors associated in old physiology with irascibility and melancholy

b : a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats

2

a : inclination to anger

b : acrimony, vitriol

Examples of BILE

1. One writer objected to what she described as “the bile that is spewed from the newspaper's editorial page.”
2. <with considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness>

Origin of BILE

Latin bilis; akin to Welsh bustl bile

First Known Use: 1547

Related to BILE

Synonyms

acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, asperity, acrimony, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, virulence, virulency, vitriol

Related Words

gruffness, harshness, hostility, relentlessness, severity, sternness, vehemence; coldness, crossness, discourteousness, iciness, impoliteness, incivility, nastiness, rudeness, sourness, surliness, ungraciousness; anger, animosity, gall, jaundice, malevolence, malice, rancor, scorn, spite, spleen, venom, vindictiveness; jealousy, pique, resentment, sour grapes

Near Antonyms

civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, geniality, graciousness, kindness, politeness, tactfulness; compassion, softness, sweetness, sympathy, tenderness, warmth; oiliness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity, unctuousness, urbanity

Other Biochemistry Terms

biodegradable, capsaicin, keratin, metabolism

Rhymes with BILE

dial, file, isle, pile, smile, spile, stile, style, tile, trial, while, wile

bile

noun \ˈbī(ə)l\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BILE

1

: a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats—called also fel

2

: either of two humors associated in old physiology with irascibility and melancholy

bile

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Greenish-yellow liver secretion passed to the gallbladder for concentration, storage, or transport into the duodenum for fat digestion. Bile contains bile acids and salts, cholesterol, and electrolyte chemicals that keep it slightly acidic. In the intestine, products of the acids and salts emulsify fat and reduce its surface tension to prepare it for the action of pancreatic and intestinal fat-splitting enzymes.