digestive tract

noun

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Definition of digestive tract

: the tubular passage typically extending from the mouth to the anus or cloaca that functions in digestion and absorption of food and elimination of residual waste and that in most mammals includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus — called also alimentary canal, alimentary tract

Recent Examples of digestive tract from the Web

As such, the male anglerfish barely has a digestive tract to speak of, and no instinct for the hunt.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue," 26 June 2018
But the researchers also wondered whether these hard-shell, every-ready eggs survive a bird’s digestive tract.

— joanna klein, New York Times, "Stick Insects Are Easy Bird Food, and That Might Help Them Reproduce," 5 June 2018
The practice does not replace drinking water but supplements it by skipping the digestive tract and going straight for the bloodstream.

— zahria rogers, The Courier-Journal, "Concierge IV hydration therapy service seeks to rehydrate Louisville," 12 July 2018
The illness can cause open sores (ulcers) anywhere in your digestive tract, the Mayo Clinic says.

— korin miller, SELF, "10 Crohn’s Disease Symptoms, From Diarrhea to Beyond," 13 June 2018
In the recipe, the avocado provides a good amount of fiber, which the magazine says is good for your digestive tract.

— susan selasky, Detroit Free Press, "Full of healthful fat, salmon is one of the easiest fish to grill," 24 June 2018
Long digestive tracts retain seeds for long periods, enabling dispersal across wide distances.

— adam popescu, National Geographic, "These Fish Keep Forests Alive—And Fishing Threatens Them," 12 June 2018
The animal has two brains but a single respiratory system, digestive tract and body, according to SWNS.

— Fox News, "Rare two-headed snake discovered in backyard," 4 June 2018
In the latest twist on an edible sensor that could one day monitor disease, scientists have created a pill-size device that can detect bleeding deep inside a pig’s digestive tract—and relay that information via a wireless signal to a cellphone.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Bacteria in a pill may one day track your body’s chemistry," 24 May 2018

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

First Known Use of digestive tract

1842

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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DIGESTIVE TRACT Defined for Kids

digestive tract

noun

Definition of digestive tract for Students

: the tube-shaped passage including the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and intestines that is concerned with taking in, breaking down, and absorbing food and discharging solid waste

Medical Dictionary

digestive tract

noun

medical Definition of digestive tract

: the tubular passage typically extending from mouth to anus or cloaca that functions in digestion and absorption of food and elimination of residual waste and that in most mammals includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus — called also alimentary canal, alimentary tract