bowel

/'bauəl/

Thân thiện

A doctor uses a medical diagram to explain the healthy function of the bowel.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The intestine, especially the large intestine: "bowel" refers to the part of the digestive system that extends from the stomach to the anus, responsible for absorbing water and nutrients and eliminating waste.
   • (plural, bowels) The inner parts, especially the deepest or most remote parts: Used metaphorically to refer to the interior of something, often a large structure or the earth.
   • (plural, bowels) Feelings of pity or compassion: An archaic or literary usage referring to deep-seated emotions, particularly mercy or sympathy.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Anatomical):
  • The doctor examined the patient's bowel for any signs of disease.
  • A healthy diet is essential for good bowel function.
• Noun (Plural, Metaphorical - Interior):
  • The miners descended into the bowels of the earth.
  • The engine room is located in the bowels of the ship.
• Noun (Plural, Archaic - Compassion):
  • The tyrant was said to have no bowels of mercy for his subjects.

Advanced Usage

• "to evacuate/move/open one's bowels": a formal or medical phrase meaning to defecate.
  • The medication helps the patient evacuate his bowels regularly.
• "bowel movement": the act or an instance of defecation; also the waste matter itself.
  • The nurse recorded the frequency of the patient's bowel movements.

Variants and Related Words

• Bowel-related (adj): pertaining to the bowels.
  • She underwent a bowel-related surgical procedure.
• Bowel cancer (n): cancer of the colon or rectum.
  • Regular screening is recommended for early detection of bowel cancer.

Synonyms

• Intestine: The anatomical term for the bowel.
• Gut: A more informal term for the stomach and intestines.
• Innards: Informal for internal organs; can be used metaphorically like "bowels."
• Viscera: The internal organs in the main cavities of the body.

Related Phrases

• The bowels of compassion/mercy/pity: An idiom using the archaic sense, meaning a source of deep feeling or sympathy.
  • The story was meant to stir the bowels of compassion in the audience.

Notes on Usage

• In modern, non-medical English, "bowel" is most commonly used in the singular to refer to the intestine as an organ system (e.g., , ).
• The plural form "bowels" is standard for the metaphorical meaning of "interior depths."
• The use of "bowels" to mean compassion is now rare and considered literary or archaic.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the part of the alimentary canal between the stomach and the anus

Từ đồng nghĩa

• intestine
• gut