chyme (kīm) n. The thick semifluid mass of partly digested food that is passed from the stomach to the duodenum.
[Middle English chime, humors, body fluids, from Old French, from Late Latin chȳmus, from Greek khūmos, juice; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.] chy'mous (kī'məs) adj.
1607, from L. chymus, from Gk. khymos, nearly identical to khylos (see chyle) and meaning essentially the same thing. Differentiated by Galen, who used khymos for "juice in its natural or raw state," and khylos for "juice produced by digestion," hence the modern distinction.
Main Entry: chyme Pronunciation: 'kIm Function: noun : the semifluid mass of partly digested food expelled by the stomach into the duodenum —chy·mous/'kI-m&s/adjective