large intestine

noun

: the more terminal division of the vertebrate intestine that is wider and shorter than the small intestine, typically divided into cecum, colon, and rectum, and concerned especially with the resorption of water and the formation of feces

Examples of large intestine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prebiotics fuel and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your large intestine. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 18 Mar. 2025 All fibers generally aren’t digested well in your small intestine and slide through to your large intestine relatively unscathed, which can help keep you regular. — Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025 Read More: Your Post-Meal Sugar Cravings May Have an Evolutionary Purpose Microbiome's Role in Sugar Metabolism Expanding their research, the team explored glucose’s role in the large intestine and found that gut bacteria metabolize it to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). — Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025 It is caused by a defect in your immune system that causes an attack on the lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for large intestine

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of large intestine was in 1724

Rhymes for large intestine

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Browse Nearby Words

large-hearted
large intestine
largeish
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Cite this Entry

“Large intestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/large%20intestine. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

large intestine

noun
: the last part of the intestine which is wider and shorter than the small intestine, which consists of the cecum, colon, and rectum, and which absorbs water from the material left over from digestion and prepares the feces for release from the body

Medical Definition

large intestine

noun
: the more terminal division of the vertebrate intestine that is wider and shorter than the small intestine, typically divided into cecum, colon, and rectum, and concerned especially with the resorption of water and the formation of feces

More from Merriam-Webster on large intestine

Nglish: Translation of large intestine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about large intestine

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