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

The second, longer part of the small intestine is connected to the smaller top part of the stomach.1 The bypass includes a large part of the stomach and 3 to 4 feet of the small intestine. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2025

This hormone increases bile production in your small intestine and may help push waste through your body more quickly.4 All these processes working together can increase your urge to poop. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Mar. 2025

All fibers generally aren’t digested well in your small intestine and slide through to your large intestine relatively unscathed, which can help keep you regular. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025

For the duodenal switch, the first part of the small intestine is divided just below the stomach, and a section of the intestine is rerouted and connected to the stomach. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Mar. 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