digester

noun

di·​gest·​er dī-ˈje-stər How to pronounce digester (audio)
də-
1
: one that digests or makes a digest
2
: a vessel for digesting especially plant or animal materials

Examples of digester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The resort’s next project is to build methane digesters to turn human waste into even more usable energy. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 At the other end of the digester, Bryant captures biogas composed of about 60 percent methane and 40 percent carbon dioxide. Wendee Nicole, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2014 However, environmental advocates also point to research that suggests digesters could worsen air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, California’s dairy belt, which already witnesses the nation’s highest levels of lung-aggravating particle pollution each year. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2023 But these digesters are expensive, running into the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, something Ribeiro says is prohibitive for dairies with fewer than 1,000 milking cows. Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 Some farmers have chosen to partner with energy companies, adding their manure to an anaerobic digester to produce renewable energy. The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Apr. 2023 Be sure to pay your respects to the massive digester eggs on Deer Island. Patricia Harris, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2023 Dairies that have received state digester funding have an average herd size of 7,500 cattle. Alessandra Bergamin, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2021 The digesters, large machines that break down biodegradable material and turn it into methane, were supposed to be built in farms in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'digester.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of digester was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near digester

Cite this Entry

“Digester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digester. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

digester

noun
di·​gest·​er -ˈjes-tər How to pronounce digester (audio)
1
: one that digests
2
: a medicine or an article of food that aids digestion
3
also digestor : a vessel or apparatus for digesting
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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