intestine

adjective in·tes·tine \ in-ˈte-stən \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Definition of intestine

: internal; specifically : of or relating to the internal affairs of a state or country

intestine war

intestine was our Word of the Day on 07/27/2012. Hear the podcast!

Did You Know?

We bet you thought "intestine" was a noun referring to a part of the digestive system! It is, of course, but naming that internal body part isn't the word's only function. Both the noun and the adjective "intestine" have been a part of English since the 15th century, and both trace to the Latin adjective intestinus, meaning "internal," and ultimately to intus, meaning "within." Though the adjective "intestine" turns up much less frequently than does its anatomical cousin, it does see occasional use, especially as a synonym for "civil" and "domestic" (in contrast to "foreign") applied to wars and disturbances.

Origin and Etymology of intestine

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French intestin, from Latin intestinus, from intus within — more at ent-

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

intestine

noun

Definition of intestine

: the tubular part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the anus — compare large intestine, small intestine

See intestine defined for English-language learners

See intestine defined for kids

Recent Examples of intestine from the Web

Hillard explained that there are some side effects of using it, including interference with some medicines and some gastrointestinal intestine problems.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Six things you might be asking about hemp," 13 July 2018
Turquoise ovals crowd a ring of fluorescent magenta flesh in another image—a section of intestines inside a zebrafish.

— marissa fessenden, Smithsonian, "Scientific Images Make Dazzling Art In a Duke University Exhibit," 12 July 2018
Human intestines pulled from the viscera of the NPFL’s ethnic enemies served as makeshift gates.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "'The only good Krahn man is a dead Krahn man': How culpable is Delco resident for ethnic atrocities in Liberia?," 22 June 2018
There have been other cases in which children receive a new pancreas, but those transplants are usually done in conjunction with kidney and intestine transplants.

— wayne drash, CNN, "The medicine keeping her alive was also killing her," 12 June 2018
Pieces in the collection included a focus on raw, unfinished materials, including leather trousers and trenchcoats, or thick, intestine-like wool belts.

— christian allaire, Vogue, "How 6 Indigenous Designers Are Using Fashion to Reclaim Their Culture," 30 May 2018
By the early 19th century, American men were sporting condoms fashioned from animal intestines.

— carolyn todd, Allure, "The History and Evolution of Birth Control in America," 12 July 2018
The intestines, lungs and meat are distributed to people along with the skin and blubber.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Kivalina enjoys rare beluga whale harvest," 7 July 2018
In other words, the waste from her intestines would empty into a bag through a hole created in her abdomen.

— ross dellenger, SI.com, "The Never-Before-Told Story of Kelly Orgeron, Colorful Wife of LSU's Colorful Head Coach," 2 July 2018

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

Illustration of intestine

Origin and Etymology of intestine

Middle English, from Middle French intestin, from Latin intestinum, from neuter of intestinus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

INTESTINE Defined for English Language Learners

intestine

noun

Definition of intestine for English Language Learners

: a long tube in the body that helps digest food after it leaves the stomach

INTESTINE Defined for Kids

intestine

noun in·tes·tine \ in-ˈte-stən \

Definition of intestine for Students

: the lower part of the digestive canal that is a long tube made up of the small intestine and large intestine and in which most of the digestion and absorption of food occurs and through which waste material passes to be discharged

Medical Dictionary

intestine

noun in·tes·tine \ in-ˈtes-tən \

medical Definition of intestine

: the tubular portion of the digestive tract that lies posterior to the stomach from which it is separated by the pyloric sphincter and consists of a slender but long anterior part made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum which function in digestion and assimilation of nutrients and a broader shorter posterior part made up of the cecum, colon, and rectum which function in resorption of water from the by-products of digestion and formation of the feces —often used in plural