bile

noun

ˈbī(-ə)l 

1

a

: a yellow or greenish alkaline fluid that is secreted by the liver, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and passed into the intestinal duodenum where it aids especially in the breakdown and absorption of fats

Note: Bile is composed primarily of water containing various organic and inorganic components (such as bile salts, cholesterol, bilirubin, and electrolytes).

b

: either of two humors (see humor entry 1 sense 2c) believed in ancient and medieval physiology to be associated with irascibility or melancholy see also black bile, yellow bile

2

a

: anger

His bile rises as he recounts the story, still furious more than seven years later.

—Arnold Wayne Jones

Those on the wrong side of the … recovery may find their bile rising at the thoughts of banks making more money …

—Jeffrey Halley

… [Dilly] Barlow [documentarian] finds islanders still smarting from the posthumous publication of Montgomery's caustic journals in which she vented all her suppressed bile about the local residents.

—Stephanie Billen

b

: speech or writing that expresses bitter anger or hatred : acrimony, vitriol

These days it's fashionable to get hopped up on hate from some Facebook bubble of similarly outraged people and then spew bile …

—Rob Port

The amount of bile directed at the England captain since Wednesday's defeat by Northern Ireland has been extraordinary and uncalled for.

—The Times (London, England)

Zogby … responds to e-mailed bile by offering to pray for the senders.

—Monica Hesse

… a stunning "Ballad of a Thin Man," featuring Dylan spitting the bile-filled lyrics with vigor …

—Andy Greene

Davis, who has already bashed her parents in two thinly disguised novels, is reportedly spilling more bile to celebrity biographer Kitty Kelley …

—Newsweek

Synonyms

• acidity
• acidness
• acridity
• acridness
• acrimony
• asperity
• bitterness
• cattiness
• corrosiveness
• mordancy
• tartness
• virulence
• virulency
• vitriol

Examples of bile in a Sentence

One writer objected to what she described as “the bile that is spewed from the newspaper's editorial page.”

with considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease begins in the slender tubes that carry digestive bile and is associated with symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, fever and night sweats. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 2 May 2025

When there are no bile ducts left, bile builds up in the body, causing liver damage. —Korin Miller, Flow Space, 23 Apr. 2025

Butter also has the potential to stimulate bile flow, which can get things moving. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2025

Turmeric may help stimulate bile, which supports digestion and helps get rid of waste from the body. —Morgan Pearson, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin bilis; akin to Welsh bustl bile

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing bile

• bile acid
• bile duct
• bile salt
• black bile
• yellow bile

Rhymes for bile

• aisle
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• mile
• pile
• rile
• smile
• stile

Kids Definition

bile

noun

ˈbī(ə)l 

1

: a thick bitter yellow or greenish fluid that is secreted by the liver and aids in the digestion and absorption of fats in the duodenum

2

: ill will, anger

Medical Definition

bile

noun

ˈbī(ə)l 

1

: a yellow or greenish alkaline fluid that is secreted by the liver, stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats

Note: Bile is composed primarily of water containing various organic and inorganic components (such as bile salts, cholesterol, bilirubin, and electrolytes).

2

: either of two humors (see humor sense 2) believed in ancient and medieval physiology to be associated with irascibility and melancholy see also black bile, yellow bile