stomach

1 of 2

noun

stom·​ach ˈstə-mək 

-mik

1

a(1)

: a saclike expansion of the digestive tract of a vertebrate that is located between the esophagus and duodenum and typically consists of a simple often curved sac with an outer serous covering, a strong muscular wall that contracts rhythmically, and an inner mucous membrane lining that contains gastric glands

Note: In humans, the stomach is located in the upper abdomen, below the esophagus and above the small intestine. It functions mainly to partially digest food by grinding and mixing it with gastric secretions (such as hydrochloric acid and pepsin). Mucus is also secreted to protect the stomach lining from damage by the acidic environment. Once ingested food has been partially digested by the stomach, it is discharged through the pylorus into the duodenum in the form of the semifluid chyme for further digestion.

(2)

: one of the compartments making up the stomach of a ruminant animal (such as a cow or sheep)

… the rumen, the largest of the four stomachs in an older animal, is undeveloped at birth and is considerably smaller than the abomasum or true stomach.

—Norman Barron

b

: the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen

He was punched in the stomach.

c

: a cavity in an invertebrate animal that is analogous to a stomach

When a leaf containing the bacteria is ingested by the larva of certain insects, the new gene produces a protein that attacks the stomach lining of the insect and causes death.

—The New York Times

2

a

: desire for food caused by hunger : appetite

After the hike, she had a good stomach for lunch.

b

: inclination, desire

had no stomach for an argument

also : courage, guts

3

obsolete

a

: spirit, valor

b

: arrogance

c

: spleen, resentment

stomach

2 of 2

verb

stomached; stomaching; stomachs

transitive verb

1

: to bear without overt reaction or resentment : put up with

couldn't stomach office politics

2

archaic : to take offense at

Synonyms

Noun

• abdomen
• belly
• breadbasket [slang]
• gut
• solar plexus
• tummy

Verb

• abide
• absorb
• accept
• bear
• bide [chiefly dialect]
• brook
• countenance
• endure
• go
• hack
• handle
• meet
• pocket
• stand
• stick out
• support
• sustain
• sweat out
• take
• tolerate
• wear [British]

Examples of stomach in a Sentence

Noun

She has problems with her stomach.

I've had enough to eat. My stomach is full.

He was lying on his stomach.

Verb

I could barely stomach the smell.

I can't stomach raw onions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Keith died in February at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 26 June 2024

Jelly Roll, Wilson, and Rucker were among the many country singers to cover Keith classics following his death in February at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2024

Verb

Betting everything on the stock market over the past two decades would have been the best way to go, in hindsight, but most investors didn't recognize this in advance and even fewer of them could have stomached the considerable gyrations along the way. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 31 Mar. 2024

This is partly because the loss of insentient machinery, no matter how expensive, is easier to stomach than the death of an aircrew. —Lauren Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stomak, from Anglo-French estomac, from Latin stomachus gullet, esophagus, stomach, from Greek stomachos, from stoma mouth; akin to Middle Breton staffn mouth, Avestan staman-

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing stomach

• eyes are bigger than one's stomach
• makes me sick to my stomach
• make someone's stomach turn
• on a full stomach
• on an empty stomach
• settle the stomach
• sick to one's stomach
• someone's stomach is in knots
• strong stomach
• the pit of one's/the stomach
• turn one's stomach
• turn someone's stomach
• weak stomach

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

Kids Definition

stomach

1 of 2 noun

stom·​ach ˈstəm-ək 

-ik

1

a

: a pouch of the vertebrate digestive system into which food passes from the esophagus for mixing and digestion before passing to the duodenum of the small intestine

b

: a cavity with a similar function in an invertebrate animal

c

: the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen

2

a

: desire for food caused by hunger : appetite

b

: desire entry 2 sense 1, inclination

had no stomach for an argument

stomach

2 of 2 verb

: tolerate sense 1

could not stomach the smell

Medical Definition

stomach

noun

stom·​ach ˈstəm-ək, -ik 

1

a

: a saclike expansion of the digestive tract of a vertebrate communicating anteriorly with the esophagus and posteriorly with the duodenum and being typically a simple often curved sac with an outer serous coat, a strong complex muscular wall that contracts rhythmically, and a mucous lining membrane that contains gastric glands

b

: one of the compartments of a ruminant stomach

the abomasum is the fourth stomach of a ruminant

2

: a cavity in an invertebrate animal that is analogous to a stomach

3

: the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen