flatus
/'fleitəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Intestinal gas expelled through the anus: The gas generated in the intestines during digestion that is released from the body.
- The act of expelling such gas: The instance or process of releasing this gas.
Usage
- As a countable noun: Refers to an instance or release of gas.
- He tried to suppress a flatus during the meeting.
- As an uncountable noun: Refers to the gas itself as a substance.
- The buildup of flatus can cause discomfort.
Examples
- The doctor explained that certain foods can increase the production of flatus.
- Passing flatus is a normal, though sometimes embarrassing, bodily function.
- Excessive flatus can be a symptom of digestive issues.
Advanced Usage
- Medical/Formal Context: The term is primarily used in medical, scientific, or formal contexts to describe this biological process neutrally.
- The study measured the volume of flatus produced after consuming beans.
Variants and Related Words
- Flatulence (n): The state of having an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal, or the expulsion of this gas.
- Flatulence is a common side effect of a high-fiber diet.
- Flatulent (adj): Suffering from or causing an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal.
- He felt flatulent after the large meal.
Synonyms
- Gas: (General term) A more common and less formal word.
- Fart: (Informal/Vulgar) A very common, direct, and often impolite term for the act or instance.
Antonyms
- There are no direct antonyms, but states like digestive comfort or lack of gas can be considered conceptual opposites.
Notes on Usage
- Register: "Flatus" is a formal, technical term. In everyday conversation, euphemisms like "gas" or "passing gas" are more common and socially acceptable than the blunt informal synonym.
- Plural: The standard plural is flatuses, though the word is often used as an uncountable noun. The form flatus can also be treated as a plural in some technical texts.
Noun
- a reflex that expels intestinal gas through the anus