large intestine

noun

: the more terminal division of the vertebrate intestine that is wider and shorter than the small intestine, typically divided into cecum, colon, and rectum, and concerned especially with the resorption of water and the formation of feces

Examples of large intestine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In March 2024, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Fiber helps keep bowel movements regular and fuels the growth of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Mar. 2025

After a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist diagnosed her with ulcerative colitis (UC), a disease where the body’s immune cells overreact and attack the colon—part of the large intestine—leaving open sores in the lining. —Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2025

Prebiotics fuel and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your large intestine. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for large intestine

• clandestine
• progestin

Kids Definition

large intestine

noun

: the last part of the intestine which is wider and shorter than the small intestine, which consists of the cecum, colon, and rectum, and which absorbs water from the material left over from digestion and prepares the feces for release from the body

Medical Definition

large intestine

noun

: the more terminal division of the vertebrate intestine that is wider and shorter than the small intestine, typically divided into cecum, colon, and rectum, and concerned especially with the resorption of water and the formation of feces