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intestine

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅tes⋅tine

[in-tes-tin]
–noun
1. Usually, intestines. the lower part of the alimentary canal, extending from the pylorus to the anus.
2. Also called small intestine. the narrow, longer part of the intestines, comprising the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, that serves to digest and absorb nutrients.
3. Also called large intestine. the broad, shorter part of the intestines, comprising the cecum, colon, and rectum, that absorbs water from and eliminates the residues of digestion.
–adjective
4. internal; domestic; civil: intestine strife.

Origin:
1525–35; < L intestīnum, n. use of neut. of intestīnus internal, equiv. to intes- (var. of intus inside) + -tīnus adj. suffix; cf. vespertine
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·tes·tine   (ĭn-těs'tĭn)   


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n.  The portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consisting of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. Often used in the plural.
adj.  Internal; civil: the intestine affairs of the nation.

[Middle English, from Old French intestin, from Latin intestīna, intestines, from neuter pl. of intestīnus, internal, from intus, within; see en in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·tes·tine
Pronunciation: in-'tes-t&n
Function: noun
: the tubular portion of the alimentary canal that lies posterior to thestomach 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 ofnutrients and a broader shorter posterior part made up of the cecum, colon, and rectum which serve chiefly to extract moisture from the by-products of digestion and evaporate them into feces—often used in plural intestines in several places>; —see LARGEINTESTINE, SMALL INTESTINE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

intestine in·tes·tine (ĭn-těs'tĭn)
n.
The portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consisting of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

intestine

tubular part of the alimentary canal that extends from the stomach to the anus. The intestine is the site of most chemical digestive processes and the place where digested food materials are either absorbed for use by the body or collected into feces for elimination. The anterior part of the intestine, which is linked to the stomach, is called the small intestine. It is followed by a shorter, wider segment called the large intestine, which terminates in the anus.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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