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

The following weekly digest is written and compiled by the Trans Formations Project, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to tracking and educating about the anti-trans legislative crisis currently sweeping the United States. —Trans Formations Project, Them, 20 Dec. 2024

News Texans could pay $460 more annually for insurance without ACA subsidies Dec 11, 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, 17 Dec. 2024

Verb

Traders also digested news from over the weekend that a U.S. government shutdown was narrowly averted. —Jenni Reid, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024

Instead of communicating in real-time, people can digest and respond to messages when convenient. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 22 Dec. 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