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

Plus, most tests sequence which bacteria are present but skip the chemical activity that explains how your gut actually functions, and a stool sample mainly reflects the colon rather than the small intestine where a lot happens. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026

Poor Iron Absorption Due to Health Conditions Iron absorption occurs mainly in the small intestine. —Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026

There was a bowel obstruction in my small intestine. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

Every time Forrest eats, his small intestine breaks down the resulting slurry of kibble into glucose and other compounds. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026

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