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¹stomach

noun stom·ach \ˈstə-mək, -mik\

: the organ in your body where food goes and begins to be digested after you swallow it

: the part of your body that contains the stomach

: the desire, courage, etc., that is needed to do or accept something difficult or unpleasant

Full Definition of STOMACH

a (1) : a dilatation of the alimentary canal of a vertebrate communicating anteriorly with the esophagus and posteriorly with the duodenum (2) : one of the compartments of a ruminant stomach <the abomasum is the fourth stomach of a ruminant>

b : a cavity in an invertebrate animal that is analogous to a stomach

c : the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen

a : desire for food caused by hunger : appetite

b : inclination, desire <had no stomach for an argument>; also : courage, guts

obsolete

a : spirit, valor

b : pride

c : spleen, resentment

See stomach defined for English-language learners

See stomach defined for kids

Origin of STOMACH

Middle English stomak, from Anglo-French estomac, from Latin stomachus gullet, esophagus, stomach, from Greek stomachos, from stoma mouth; akin to Middle Breton staffn mouth, Avestan staman-

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STOMACH

Synonyms: abdomen, belly, breadbasket [slang], gut, solar plexus, tummy

Antonyms: inappetence

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with STOMACH

hummock

²stomach

transitive verb

: to accept or experience (something unpleasant) without becoming sick, upset, etc.

: to eat (something) without getting a sick or unpleasant feeling in your stomach

Full Definition of STOMACH

archaic : to take offense at

: to bear without overt reaction or resentment : put up with <couldn't stomach office politics>

First Known Use of STOMACH

1523

Related to STOMACH

Synonyms: abide, absorb, accept, bide [chiefly dialect], brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, bear, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear [British]

Rhymes with STOMACH

hummock

STOMACH Defined for Kids

¹stomach

noun stom·ach \ˈstə-mək\

Definition of STOMACH for Kids

: the pouch into which food passes from the esophagus for mixing and digestion before passing to the small intestine

: the part of the body that contains the stomach : abdomen <The ball hit him in the stomach.>

: ²desire 1, liking <She had no stomach for trouble.>

²stomach

verb

stom·achedstom·ach·ing

Definition of STOMACH for Kids

: to bear patiently : put up with <I couldn't stomach their rude behavior.>

Medical Dictionary

stomach

noun stom·ach \ˈstəm-ək, -ik\

Medical Definition of STOMACH

a : a saclike expansion of the alimentary canal of a vertebrate communicating anteriorly with the esophagus and posteriorly with the duodenum and being typically a simple often curved sac with an outer serous coat, a strong complex muscular wall that contracts rhythmically, and a mucous lining membrane that contains gastric glands b : one of the compartments of a ruminant stomach <the abomasum is the fourth stomach of a ruminant>

: a cavity in an invertebrate animal that is analogous to a stomach

: the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen