digestion

noun

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di·ges·tion | \ dī-ˈjes-chən

, də-, -ˈjesh- \

Definition of digestion

: the action, process, or power of digesting: such as

a : the process of making food absorbable by mechanically and enzymatically breaking it down into simpler chemical compounds in the digestive tract

b : the process in sewage treatment by which organic matter in sludge is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria with the release of a burnable mixture of gases

Examples of digestion in a Sentence

an enzyme that aids in the digestion of protein She began to suffer from poor digestion as she grew older.

Recent Examples on the Web Like other birds, flamingos swallow small pebbles to aid digestion, but can't distinguish between pebbles and the lead pellets. — Star Tribune, "Cyprus activists: Hunters' lead pellets threaten flamingos," 21 Feb. 2021 For humans, yogurt can serve as a natural probiotic but for dogs, dairy can actually hinder digestion. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, "Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?," 21 Feb. 2021 Stacks of research show that the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other for at least 30 minutes a day can lower your blood pressure, improve your mood, strengthen your bones, improve digestion, and so much more. — Marisa Cohen, Good Housekeeping, "This Is How Many Calories You Burn From Walking," 16 Feb. 2021 This happens if the small intestine doesn't make enough lactase, the enzyme that helps with dairy digestion by breaking down lactose. — Melissa Matthews, SELF, "Grocery Diaries: A Busy Law Student Who Uses Cooking to Connect With Her Vietnamese Culture," 5 Jan. 2021 Within a month: Positive changes to your weight and healthier hair, nails and digestion. — NOLA.com, "Give up alcohol with support and feedback for Ochsner Eat Fit's 'Alcohol Free for 40' challenge," 8 Feb. 2021 Some slow digestion, some take up space in your stomach, and others even boost the production of hunger-reducing hormones. — Norcal Marketing, Chron, "Best Appetite Suppressants 2021: Top 5 Hunger Control Pills That Work," 4 Feb. 2021 Some anti-nutrients block the digestion of seeds that are eaten. — Jill Joyce, The Conversation, "Anti-nutrients – they’re part of a normal diet and not as scary as they sound," 12 Jan. 2021 In addition to any immunity properties, elderberries aid digestion due to their high fiber count. — Erica Sweeney, Good Housekeeping, "5 Ways Elderberry Syrup Benefits Your Health, According to Experts," 27 Jan. 2021

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

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Learn More about digestion

Dictionary Entries near digestion

digestion coefficient

digestive

digestive gland

Statistics for digestion

Last Updated

28 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Digestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digestion. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for digestion

digestion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of digestion

: the process by which food is changed to a simpler form after it is eaten

See the full definition for digestion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

digestion

noun

di·ges·tion | \ dī-ˈjes-chən

, də- \

Kids Definition of digestion

: the body's process or power of changing food into simpler forms that can be taken up and used

digestion

noun

di·ges·tion | \ dī-ˈjes(h)-chən, də-

Medical Definition of digestion

: the action, process, or power of digesting especially : the process of making food absorbable by mechanically and enzymatically breaking it down into simpler chemical compounds in the digestive tract

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