Illustration of intestine
- A large intestine
- B small intestine
in·tes·tine
in-ˈte-stən 
: the tubular part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the anus compare large intestine, small intestine
Did you know?
We bet you thought intestine was a noun referring to a part of the digestive system! It is, of course, but naming that internal body part isn't the word's only function. Both the noun and the adjective intestine have been a part of English since the 15th century, and both trace to the Latin adjective intestinus, meaning "internal," and ultimately to intus, meaning "within." Though the adjective intestine turns up much less frequently than does its anatomical cousin, it does see occasional use, especially as a synonym for civil and domestic (in contrast to foreign) applied to wars and disturbances.
Examples of intestine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
The microbiome within you and without you The makeup of organisms residing in the intestines is affected by climate change in other ways as well.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 May 2025
Enterococci are a group of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Some forms of magnesium can lower the pH of the intestines and prevent iron from being absorbed.
—Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 8 May 2025
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Noun
Although she once was hooked up 24 hours a day to the feeding system that delivered nutrients directly into the bloodstream, doctors began weaning her off as her intestines got stronger.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
The microbiome within you and without you The makeup of organisms residing in the intestines is affected by climate change in other ways as well.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 May 2025
Enterococci are a group of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Some forms of magnesium can lower the pH of the intestines and prevent iron from being absorbed.
—Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intestine
Cite this Entry
“Intestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intestine. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
intestine
noun
in·tes·tine
in-ˈtes-tən
: the tubular portion of the digestive tract that lies posterior to the stomach from which it is separated by the pyloric sphincter and consists of a slender but long anterior part made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum which function in digestion and assimilation of nutrients and a broader shorter posterior part made up of the cecum, colon, and rectum which function in resorption of water from the by-products of digestion and formation of the feces
—often used in plural
the movement of digested food through your intestines—Mayo Clinic Health Letter
see large intestine, small intestine
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