Skip to main content
intestinal juice

intestinal juice

4.8
A fluid the gut makes that has chemicals to help break down food
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈtɛstɪnəl dʒuːs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : jugo intestinal
  • Intestinal juice contains enzymes that help break down food in the small intestine.

Examples

  • Doctors study the composition of intestinal juice to better understand certain diseases.

  • When the body produces less intestinal juice, digestive problems may occur.

  • The intestinal juice helps break down food.

  • Many enzymes are found in intestinal juices.

  • Intestinal juice contains enzymes that help break down food in the small intestine.

  • When the body produces less intestinal juice, digestive problems may occur.

  • Doctors study the composition of intestinal juice to better understand certain diseases.

Synonyms

digestive juice
vsintestinal juice
  • Specialized
1 3.4

The stomach and other parts make a liquid that helps break food into smaller parts

is produced by glands lining the gut and contains enzymes aiding digestion
digestive fluid
vsintestinal juice
  • Specialized
3.8

A liquid the body makes that helps break down food

is specifically a gland secretion from the gut walls containing enzymes for digestion

Surface Forms

Morphology

intestinal + juice

The meaning 'a fluid secreted by the intestines' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'intestinal' (related to the intestines) with 'juice' (a liquid). This straightforward compositional noun phrase follows standard morphological and semantic patterns common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Intestinal juice is a simple name: intestinal means 'from the intestines' and juice means a liquid. It is the liquid made by the walls of the intestines to help break down food, so the name means 'the fluid that helps digestion'.