fecal matter
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Solid waste material discharged from the intestines through the anus: "Fecal matter" refers to the solid or semi-solid bodily waste that remains after the digestion of food, which is expelled from the body.
Usage
- "Fecal matter" is a formal, clinical, or scientific term. It is typically used in medical, biological, public health, and sanitation contexts. It is less common in everyday casual conversation, where terms like "feces," "stool," or "poop" are more frequent.
Examples
- Noun:
- The laboratory analyzed the sample for traces of blood in the fecal matter.
- Proper sanitation is crucial to prevent the contamination of water supplies with fecal matter.
- The veterinarian examined the dog's fecal matter for parasites.
Advanced Usage
- "Fecal matter" is often used in compound nouns within specialized fields, such as "fecal matter transplantation" (FMT) or when discussing "fecal matter indicators" in environmental science.
- Research into fecal matter transplantation shows promise for treating certain gut infections.
Variants and Related Words
- Feces (n): The more common formal synonym for fecal matter.
- Stool (n): A common medical term for fecal matter.
- Excrement (n): A general term for waste matter discharged from the body.
- Defecate (v): The verb meaning to discharge fecal matter from the body.
- Fecal (adj): The adjective form, meaning pertaining to or consisting of feces (e.g., fecal bacteria).
Synonyms
- Feces
- Stool
- Excrement
- Dung (typically used for animal waste)
- Manure (processed animal excrement used as fertilizer)
Related Phrases
- Fecal-oral route: A pathway of disease transmission where organisms in fecal matter pass from one person to the mouth of another.
- Many gastrointestinal illnesses are spread via the fecal-oral route.
Notes on Meaning
- The term specifically denotes the solid excretory product. It is distinct from liquid waste (urine).
- It carries a neutral, technical connotation, though the subject itself is often considered unpleasant.
Noun
- solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels