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 bileRob 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

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 Other unusual ingredients in later challenges included pork brains in gravy, musk sticks, moon snails and his least favorite — beef bile. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health, PBC, is a chronic disease where the bile ducts in the liver eventually become dysfunctional and cause the buildup of bile which causes liver damage. Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024 What comes back up may include undigested food, stomach acid, and a yellowish-greenish liquid (bile). Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 Your liver uses this bilirubin to make bile, a fluid that helps digest food, Shusterman said. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2024 But also, there’s a kind of twisted egalitarianism to Larry’s bile. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024 During that time, the pig liver produced bile and maintained normal blood acidity in the patient, who remained in a stable condition. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024 Good bacteria in your intestines break down some of the bilirubin in your bile into urobilinogen, which becomes urobilin. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2024 Naomi’s episodes involved vomiting for hours until there was nothing but bile, and then vomiting that up too. Katie Engelhart, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin bilis; akin to Welsh bustl bile

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of bile was in 1547

Dictionary Entries Near bile

Cite this Entry

“Bile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bile. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bile

noun
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

Medical Definition

bile

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on bile

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