digest

1 of 2

noun

di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest 

1

: a summation or condensation of a body of information: such as

a

: a systematic compilation of legal rules, statutes, or decisions

b

: a periodical devoted to condensed versions of previously published articles

2

: a product of digestion

digest

2 of 2

verb

di·​gest dī-ˈjest 

də-

digested; digesting; digests

transitive verb

1

: to distribute or arrange systematically : classify

2

: to convert (food) into absorbable form

3

: to take into the mind or memory

especially : to assimilate mentally

4

a

: to soften, decompose, or break down by heat and moisture or chemical action

DNA digested by restriction enzymes

b

: to extract soluble ingredients from by warming with a liquid

5

: to compress into a short summary

6

: absorb sense 2

the capacity of the U.S. to digest immigrants

intransitive verb

1

: to digest food

2

: to become digested

Synonyms

Noun

• abstract
• breviary
• brief
• capsule
• conspectus
• encapsulation
• epitome
• inventory
• outline
• précis
• recap
• recapitulation
• résumé
• resume
• resumé
• roundup
• run-through
• rundown
• sum
• sum-up
• summa
• summarization
• summary
• summing-up
• synopsis
• wrap-up

Verb

• assort
• break down
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• compartmentalize
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

Examples of digest in a Sentence

Noun

a digest of the laws

a digest of yesterday's departmental meeting

Verb

He has trouble digesting certain foods.

It will take me a while to digest this news.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Read the full edition More Atlanta stories Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Atlanta. —Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

News Why Houston allergies are so bad Sep 18, 2024 Go deeper (1 min. read) News New high school to develop future health workers Sep 17, 2024 Go deeper (1 min. read) Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Houston. —Shafaq Patel, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024

Verb

This bloom of bugs ate up nutrients that the person would’ve otherwise digested, triggering deficiencies and symptoms like diarrhea and fatigue. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024

This solution provides insights in a much easier way to digest. —Steve Banker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, systematic arrangement of laws, from Latin digesta, from neuter plural of digestus, past participle of digerere to arrange, distribute, digest, from dis- + gerere to carry

Verb

Middle English, from Latin digestus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

digest

1 of 2 noun

di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest 

: a body of information or a literary work in shortened form

a digest of the laws

digest

2 of 2 verb

di·​gest dī-ˈjest 

də-

1

: to think over and arrange in the mind

digest the news

2

: to convert food into simpler forms that can be taken in and used by the body

3

: summarize sense 1

4

: to become digested

Medical Definition

digest

1 of 2 noun

di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest 

: a product of digestion

digest

2 of 2 transitive verb

di·​gest dī-ˈjest  də- 

1

: to convert (food) into absorbable form

2

a

: to soften, decompose, or break down by heat and moisture or chemicals

b

: to extract soluble ingredients from by warming with a liquid

intransitive verb

1

: to digest food

2

: to become digested

Legal Definition

digest

noun

di·​gest ˈdī-ˌjest 

: a compilation of legal rules, statutes, or decisions systematically arranged

Etymology

Noun

Latin digesta, from neuter plural of digestus, past participle of digerere to disperse, arrange