Digestive: Definition, Usage & Related Terms

Meaning 1：related to digestion (digestive)

digestive 🔊

/daɪˈdʒestɪv/

adj.

Related to breaking down food in your stomach so your body can use the energy and nutrients.

Digestive system diagram showing the path of food from mouth to intestines

related to digestion 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː dɪˈdʒestʃən/

adj.

Describing something that is involved in or aids the process of breaking down food in the body to extract nutrients and energy.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'digestivus', meaning 'relating to digestion', from 'digestus' (to separate).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'digest' + 'ive': your digestive system keeps you alive by processing food.

📖 Example

My mom recommended drinking this tea because it has digestive benefits. 🔊 My mom recommended drinking this tea because it has digestive benefits.

🔗 Collocations

digestive system – the organs that process food in the body

digestive enzymes – proteins that help break down food

digestive disorders – health issues related to digestion

🔄 Synonyms

gastrointestinal (adj.) – relating to the stomach and intestines

alimentary (adj.) – concerning nutrition or digestion

peptic (adj.) – related to digestion, especially in the stomach

🚫 Antonyms

indigestible (adj.) – not easily digested or hard to break down

🌱 Derivatives

digestion (n.) – the process of breaking down food

digest (v./n.) – to break down food or a summary of information

digestible (adj.) – able to be digested

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'digestivus', which comes from 'digestus' (digested). It entered English in the 15th century, originally used in medical contexts to describe processes of breaking down food.