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

The entire procedure took Dr. Jenny and her team about 45 minutes, especially since Luna's intestines were healthy and the onesie hadn't gone too far along. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025

Most of them were socks, the emergency center wrote on Instagram. X-ray photos showed a significant buildup within Luna’s stomach and intestines — and for good reason. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025

This softens the stool and increases peristalsis (movement through the intestines). —Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025

Stomach and intestine issues: People with gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis may have difficulty absorbing magnesium. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 19 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for intestine

• clandestine
• progestin

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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