The term “bowel” is often used in medical settings, and it refers to a part of the digestive system. However, the word has a broader meaning beyond the medical context. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of bowel, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
Bowel refers to the long, tube-like structure that forms part of the digestive system. It starts from the stomach and ends at the anus. The bowel is made up of two parts: the small intestine and the large intestine. The small intestine is where most of the nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed, while the large intestine is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from the waste products before they are eliminated from the body.
In a broader sense, bowel can also refer to the intestines or the entire digestive system.
Origin
The word “bowel” comes from the Old French word “boel,” which means intestine. It has its roots in the Latin word “botellus,” which means “sausage.”
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, bowel means “the intestine, especially the large intestine.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines bowel as “the intestine or the whole digestive tract.”
Associations
Bowel is often associated with digestive health, such as bowel movements, constipation, and diarrhea. It is also associated with medical conditions that affect the digestive system, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon cancer.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of bowel include intestine, gut, colon, and digestive tract.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of bowel, but some words that are opposite in meaning include stomach, esophagus, and mouth.
The same root words
The word “botellus,” which is the Latin root word for bowel, is also the root word for other words related to food and drink, such as bottle, bottling, and botulism.
Example Sentences
- The doctor ordered a colonoscopy to examine the patient’s bowel.
- After eating a heavy meal, I felt discomfort in my bowel.
- The patient was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
- The surgeon removed a section of the bowel during the operation.
- A healthy diet and regular exercise can improve bowel function.