noun
Uncommon
bowel
BOW-uhl
Bowel (noun) means Part of the intestines, especially the large intestine. Example: “The doctor recommended more fibre for better bowel health.”
noun
1
Part of the intestines, especially the large intestine.
"The doctor recommended more fibre for better bowel health."
2
The deep interior of something, used figuratively.
"The treasures were stored in the bowels of the ship."
"The old text spoke poetically of the bowels of the earth."
How to use bowel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPart of the intestine, or (figuratively) the deep interior of something.
Common pairings
bowel movement
bowel cancer
the bowels of the earth
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Word forms
- Plural
- bowels
- Third person singular
- bowels
- Past tense
- boweled, bowelled
Fill the gap
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The doctor recommended more fibre for better _____ health.
Etymology
From Old French boiel, ultimately from Latin botellus, "little sausage" — the same root as botulism.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bowel
See all rhymes for bowel →Frequently asked questions
What does “bowel” mean?
The word “bowel” means part of the intestines, especially the large intestine. In plain terms, part of the intestine, or (figuratively) the deep interior of something.
How do you pronounce “bowel”?
“Bowel” is pronounced BOW-uhl (/ˈbaʊ.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “bowel” in a sentence?
Here is “bowel” used in a sentence: “The doctor recommended more fibre for better bowel health.”
What part of speech is “bowel”?
“Bowel” is a noun.
Where does the word “bowel” come from?
The word “bowel” comes from Latin. From Old French boiel, ultimately from Latin botellus, "little sausage" — the same root as botulism.
Is “bowel” a common word?
“Bowel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bowel” have?
“Bowel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: part of the intestines, especially the large intestine.
What is the difference between "bowel" and "bowels"?
"Bowel" refers to part of the intestines, especially the large intestine, while the plural "bowels" often refers to the whole intestinal tract or is used figuratively for the deep interior of something, such as "the bowels of the earth."
How is "bowel" used figuratively?
Figuratively, "bowel" (usually as "bowels") describes the deep, hidden interior of something, as in "the bowels of the ship," drawing on the idea of intestines being deep inside the body.
