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intestine was our Word of the Day on 07/27/2012. Hear the podcast!
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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-
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearDefinition of intestine
: the tubular part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the anus — compare large intestine, small intestine
Recent Examples of intestine from the Web
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The necropsy results, released last week, listed just some of the items scientists found stuck in its stomach and intestines: plastic bags, pieces of net, a plastic water container.
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So would-be sloth farts are simply reabsorbed through the intestines into the bloodstream.
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This motion mimics how our intestines and esophagus move food around our body — a process known as peristalsis.
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After decades of lurking in intestines and hospitals—more opportunistic nuisance than lethal threat—the bacterium Clostridium difficile abruptly exploded, spreading rapidly and causing more severe diarrheal disease than ever before.
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Occasionally, these adhesions can block the intestines and require additional surgery.
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The discovery comes only a year or so after scientists reported the discovery of another organ called the mesentery, which was found to be a kind of fatty strip that helps hold the intestines in place.
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Writing this feels like pouring out my guts and throwing my long intestine onto the screen, because talking about addiction is difficult beyond words.
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The live organisms work by dislodging and removing the toxic decay which has accumulated on the walls of your intestines over time.
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 yearOther Anatomy Terms
INTESTINE Defined for English Language Learners
intestine
Definition of intestine for English Language Learners
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: a long tube in the body that helps digest food after it leaves the stomach
INTESTINE Defined for Kids
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
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
- the movement of digested food through your intestines
- —Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Learn More about intestine
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See words that rhyme with intestine Spanish Central: Translation of intestine Nglish: Translation of intestine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intestine for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intestine
Seen and Heard
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