cecum

noun

ce·​cum ˈsē-kəm How to pronounce cecum (audio)
variants or chiefly British caecum
plural ceca or chiefly British caeca ˈsē-kə How to pronounce cecum (audio)
: a cavity open at one end (such as the blind end of a duct)
especially : the blind pouch at the beginning of the large intestine into which the ileum opens from one side and which is continuous with the colon
cecal adjective
or chiefly British caecal
cecally adverb
or chiefly British caecally

Examples of cecum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dangling off the cecum, where the colon begins, the appendix is a hollow tube that secretes a fair amount of mucus. Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020 The appendix is closed at one end and attached at the other end to the cecum, the pouchlike beginning of the large intestine into which the small intestine empties its contents. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cecum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin intestinum caecum, literally, blind intestine

First Known Use

circa 1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cecum was circa 1721

Dictionary Entries Near cecum

Cite this Entry

“Cecum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cecum. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cecum

noun
ce·​cum
variants also caecum
ˈsē-kəm
plural ceca also caeca
-kə
: a cavity open at one end
especially : the pouch in which the large intestine begins
cecal adjective
also caecal
-kəl

Medical Definition

cecum

noun
ce·​cum
variants or chiefly British caecum
plural ceca or chiefly British caeca -kə How to pronounce cecum (audio)
: a cavity open at one end (as the blind end of a duct)
especially : the blind pouch at the beginning of the large intestine into which the ileum opens from one side and which is continuous with the colon

More from Merriam-Webster on cecum

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!