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

Probiotic supplements also typically contain gut microbes that settle in the small intestine, but the vast majority of gut microbiota colonize in the colon, Alper explained. —Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 11 Dec. 2025

The in vitro gastrointestinal tract model, including the mouth, stomach and small intestine phases, was used to simulate the human digestive processes that occur after ingestion of the kale, composed of digestive fluids formulated in a previous study. —New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2025

Then, in 2019, Horan was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to her small intestine. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025

But foods with high FODMAPs include short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by the small intestine, which can cause issues for people with IBS. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 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