intestine

1 of 2

noun

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

Illustration of intestine

• A large intestine
• B small intestine

intestine

2 of 2

adjective

: internal

specifically : of or relating to the internal affairs of a state or country

intestine war

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

Noun

Once inside a patient, the E. coli stick to the inside of the intestines and produce a toxin that kills the cells lining the gut. —Mustafa Fattah, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024

What are the symptoms, and how is it treated? E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a common type of bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals, but some E. coli can make people sick. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

Racial disparities in diagnosis Recent research has been exploring the gut microbiome—the ecosystem of microorganisms in the intestines—and how imbalances or dysfunction in this environment may contribute to the development of breast cancer. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2024

This is a relatively short, straight section of intestine with a helical (corkscrew-like) structure inside. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French intestin, from Latin intestinum, from neuter of intestinus

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French intestin, from Latin intestinus, from intus within — more at ent-

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing intestine

• large intestine
• small intestine

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Kids Definition

intestine

noun

in·​tes·​tine

in-ˈtes-tən

: the part of the alimentary canal that is a long tube composed of the small intestine and the large intestine, that extends from the stomach to the anus, that helps to digest food and absorb nutrients and water, and that carries waste matter to be discharged

Medical 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