pylorus

noun

py·​lo·​rus pī-ˈlȯr-əs How to pronounce pylorus (audio)
pə-
plural pylori pī-ˈlȯr-ˌī How to pronounce pylorus (audio)
-(ˌ)ē,
pə-
: the muscular opening from the vertebrate stomach into the intestine

Examples of pylorus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The closer a pill lands to the antrum, the last part of the stomach before the intestine, the faster the pill begins to dissolve and find its way through the pylorus into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2022 This is key, because once popped back open, those arms span wider than two centimeters—the diameter of the human pylorus, the gateway to the intestines. Wired, 4 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek pylōros, literally, gatekeeper, from pylē

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pylorus was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near pylorus

Cite this Entry

“Pylorus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pylorus. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pylorus

noun
py·​lo·​rus pī-ˈlōr-əs How to pronounce pylorus (audio)
-ˈlȯr-
plural pylori -ˈlō(ə)r-ˌī How to pronounce pylorus (audio)
-ˌē
: the opening in a vertebrate animal from the stomach into the intestine
pyloric
pī-ˈlōr-ik
pə-
-ˈlȯr-
adjective

Medical Definition

pylorus

noun
py·​lo·​rus pī-ˈlōr-əs, pə-ˈlȯr- How to pronounce pylorus (audio)
: the opening from the vertebrate stomach into the intestine see pyloric sphincter

More from Merriam-Webster on pylorus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!