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

Calcium carbonate binds to phosphate in the small intestine, benefiting people who need to limit their phosphate absorption.1 People with chronic kidney disease can develop high blood phosphate levels because their kidneys cannot remove the mineral through urine. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 May 2025

There are more bacteria in the large intestine than in the small intestine. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 16 May 2025

About 1% of the world’s population is affected by celiac disease, an immune condition that causes inflammation of the small intestine after consuming gluten. —Irene Wright, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025

The effect is similar to gastric bypass, in which surgeons make the stomach smaller and shorten the small intestine. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 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