bile

noun \ ˈbī(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

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

See bile defined for English-language learners

See bile defined for kids

Examples of bile in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of bile from the Web

Ama bazı özel insanlar vardır ki, onların sayısı çok azdır, sahip olduğunuzun farkında bile olmadığınız yönlerinizi parlatmanızı sağlar.

— alysha tsuji, For The Win, "Cavs' Cedi Osman wrote the most touching thank you message to LeBron James," 3 July 2018
Though the mechanisms aren’t fully understood, this reduced bile flow can lead to serious itching all over your body.

— korin miller, SELF, "10 Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, From Diarrhea to Beyond," 13 June 2018
China is the center of the industry and of demand for bear bile products.

— author: simon denyer, Anchorage Daily News, "From hemorrhoids to hangovers: Bear bile is treasured in China, and that’s bad for captive bears," 3 June 2018
China is the center of the industry and of demand for bear bile products.

— simon denyer, Washington Post, "China’s bear bile industry persists despite growing awareness of the cruelty involved," 3 June 2018
Even more remarkable, bike share has defied much of our culture’s anti-bike bile.

— eben weiss, Outside Online, "Bike Share Can Save Our Cities—If We Let It," 13 June 2018
Buckle up, because a lot of the conversation from here on out is going to center around bile.

— korin miller, SELF, "Here Are All the Things That Can Cause Bizarre Green Poop," 30 May 2018
Those who think that the tasteless classless bullying at the WHCD was an example of the 1st Amendment should never condemn bullying,bigoted comments, racist bile or hate speech.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Trump blasts 'filthy' Michelle Wolf: What did she say about Sarah Huckabee Sanders?," 30 Apr. 2018
The bile levels are higher than other animals, including people, could survive.

— Fox News, "Green-blooded lizards pose evolutionary puzzle," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bile

Latin bilis; akin to Welsh bustl bile

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1547

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bile Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, geniality, graciousness, kindness, politeness, tactfulness;

compassion, softness, sweetness, sympathy, tenderness, warmth;

oiliness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity, unctuousness, urbanity;

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;

Other Biochemistry Terms

biodegradable, capsaicin, keratin, metabolism

BILE Defined for English Language Learners

bile

noun

Definition of bile for English Language Learners

: a yellow or greenish liquid that is made by the liver and that helps the body to digest fats
: anger or hatred

BILE Defined for Kids

bile

noun \ ˈbīl \

Definition of bile for Students

: a thick bitter yellow or greenish fluid produced by the liver to aid in digestion of fats in the small intestine

Medical Dictionary

bile

noun \ ˈbī(ə)l \

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