WordGarden.iointestinal
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪntˈɛstɪnəl/
US
- /ɪnˈtɛstənəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to the intestines
Beyond the definition
Think of your insides, especially the long, winding parts that help digest food. That's where "intestinal" comes in. It refers to anything connected to the intestines, the organs that absorb nutrients and move waste through the body. You might hear it when people talk about health problems like intestinal infections, pain, or blockages, but it can also describe normal things happening in your digestive system. If a doctor says you have an intestinal blockage, they mean something is stopping food or waste from moving through your gut properly. It's a word that points to an important part of how the body works.
"Intestinal" is an adjective that describes anything related to the intestines, the long, coiled tubes in your abdomen that help digest food, absorb nutrients, and move waste through the body. Although people often say "stomach problems," many digestive issues actually come from the intestinal tract, which includes both the small and large intestines.
The word comes from the Latin intestinum, meaning "inner" or "internal." It's a term frequently used in medical contexts. You might hear about intestinal flora (the bacteria living in your gut), intestinal permeability (often called "leaky gut"), or intestinal distress (discomfort like cramping or bloating).
In most cases, "intestinal" is used literally, especially in health and biology. It can appear in the fixed phrase "intestinal fortitude," which means courage or toughness, but that use is much less common than the medical one.
So, whether you're talking about digestive health, a medical diagnosis, or how the body processes food and waste, "intestinal" points to the important work happening deep inside the body.
Examples
- 1
Medical diagnosis
The doctor said the pain might be caused by an intestinal infection.
- 2
Gut bacteria
Antibiotics can sometimes upset the balance of intestinal bacteria.
- 3
Medical scan
The scan showed a blockage in the intestinal tract.
- 4
Medical symptom
Some patients have intestinal bleeding after the illness.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Figurative courage
It took real intestinal fortitude to keep going after so many setbacks.
- Phraseintestinal fortitude
courage and determination, especially when something is hard
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- gastric
- extraintestinal
Used with (collocations)
- intestinal tract
- intestinal lining
- intestinal bacteria
- intestinal obstruction
Word family
Explore
- small intestine
- large intestine
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- intestinaladjective