bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

biology : intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

the large bowel

move your bowels

2

archaic : the seat of pity, tenderness, or courage

—usually used in plural

3

bowels plural : the interior parts

especially : the deep or remote parts

bowels of the earth

bowelless

ˈbau̇(-ə)l-ləs 

adjective

Examples of bowel in a Sentence

a disease of the bowel

They dug deep into the bowels of the earth.

The engine room is down in the bowels of the ship.

Recent Examples on the Web

The civil engineer underwent surgery to have half of his bowel removed — and his lymph nodes as well, as a preventative measure, in case the cancer had spread. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024

Primary biliary cholangitis occurs when your immune system mistakenly damages the bile ducts of your liver, which are needed to transport digestive fluids to your bowels. —Alice Oglethorpe, SELF, 23 Sep. 2024

His doctors later removed part of his bowel and inserted a pacemaker. —Daniel S. Levine, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024

Magnesium oxide is also used as a laxative for short-term, rapid bowel emptying, often before surgery or a medical procedure like a colonoscopy.7 Magnesium hydroxide: Like magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide is a saline laxative used to temporarily treat constipation. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French buel, boel, from Medieval Latin botellus, from Latin, diminutive of botulus sausage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bowel

• bowel movement
• inflammatory bowel disease
• irritable bowel syndrome

Kids Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

a

: intestine entry 2, gut

—usually used in plural

b

: a division of the intestine

2

plural : the interior parts

the bowels of the earth

3

archaic : supply of mercy or courage

—usually used in plural

Medical Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

: intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

move your bowels

surgery of the involved bowel