small intestine

noun

: the narrow part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the digestion of food into small molecules which are absorbed into the body

Examples of small intestine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Brekke adds that in their uncooked state, raw potatoes are also higher in resistant starch, a type of starch that cannot be broken down in the small intestine. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024

Various factors can set the scene for bacteria to swarm your small intestine. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024

The human digestive tract was, by Lane’s estimation, the biological equivalent of the household drainage system: with the stomach as the toilet bowl, the small intestine the drainpipe and the large bowel the septic tank. —Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024

The stomach holds food and breaks it down before passing it into the small intestine. —Joy Emeh, Health, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

small intestine

noun

: the long narrow part of the intestine between the stomach and the colon in which food is mostly digested, from which digested food is absorbed into the body, and which consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Medical Definition

small intestine

noun

: the part of the intestine that lies between the stomach and colon, consists of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, secretes digestive enzymes, and is the chief site of the absorption of digested nutrients

called also small bowel