small intestine

noun

: the narrow part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the digestion of food into small molecules which are absorbed into the body

Examples of small intestine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among them was a Whipple procedure, which is an operation that treats tumors and other conditions in the pancreas, small intestine and bile ducts, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

The two methods studied by the university researchers include a faster method measuring calcium digestibility in the small intestine, and the older and more time-consuming method of measuring bioavailability using ash or mineral content of a chicken's leg bone. —Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2025

Afterward, the amino acid chains travel to the small intestine. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 18 Aug. 2025

At North Carolina State University, a team led by microbial ecologist Erin McKenney and forensic anthropologist Amanda Hale conducted a landmark study measuring the lengths of the small intestines in cadavers for the first time since 1885. —Starre Vartan, CNN Money, 7 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for small intestine

• clandestine
• progestin

Kids Definition

small intestine

noun

: the long narrow part of the intestine between the stomach and the colon in which food is mostly digested, from which digested food is absorbed into the body, and which consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Medical Definition

small intestine

noun

: the part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the absorption of digested nutrients

called also small bowel