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 researchers applied worm larvae in patches on the subjects’ arms; after passing through the skin, the worms would travel through the blood stream, to the lungs and then to the small intestine. —Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025

Many people are actually infected with H. pylori and don’t experience any symptoms, but around 15% will go on to develop an ulcer in either their stomach (known as a gastric ulcer) or a portion of the small intestine called the duodenum (known as a duodenal ulcer). —Caroline Tien, SELF, 28 Apr. 2025

How Bile Acids Shape the Microbiome Produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the small intestine after eating, bile acids are mostly known for breaking down dietary fats and helping absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. —Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

The food then mixes with digestive juices from the first part of the small intestine. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 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