digest
deye-JEHST
Digest (verb) means to break food down in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb its nutrients. Example: “It takes a few hours to digest a big meal.”
verb
1
To break food down in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb its nutrients.
"It takes a few hours to digest a big meal."
"Some people find dairy hard to digest."
"Cats cannot digest some plants, which can make them ill."
2
To think over and fully take in information or an idea.
"Give me a minute to digest what you just told me."
"It took me days to digest the news that we were moving abroad."
"You need time to digest so much information after a long lecture."
noun
1
A short summary of longer material, or a periodical made up of such summaries.
"The magazine publishes a monthly digest of world news."
"I read a weekly digest of science stories on my phone every Sunday."
"The report includes a one-page digest for busy managers who lack time."
How to use digest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo process food in the body, or to mentally process information; as a noun, a condensed summary.
Common pairings
digest food
digest the news
a news digest
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Word forms
- Plural
- digests
- Third person singular
- digests
- Past tense
- digested
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It takes a few hours to _____ a big meal.
Etymology
From Latin digerere, "to carry apart, distribute," from dis- plus gerere, "to carry."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “digest” mean?
The word “digest” means to break food down in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb its nutrients. In plain terms, to process food in the body, or to mentally process information; as a noun, a condensed summary.
How do you pronounce “digest”?
“Digest” is pronounced deye-JEHST (/daɪˈd͡ʒɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “digest” in a sentence?
Here is “digest” used in a sentence: “It takes a few hours to digest a big meal.”
What part of speech is “digest”?
Depending on how it is used, “digest” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “digest” come from?
The word “digest” comes from Latin. From Latin digerere, "to carry apart, distribute," from dis- plus gerere, "to carry.".
Is “digest” a common word?
“Digest” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “digest” have?
“Digest” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to break food down in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb its nutrients.
What is the difference between "digest" and "absorb" when talking about food?
"Digest" refers to the whole process of breaking food down in the stomach and intestines, while "absorb" is the narrower step where the resulting nutrients pass into the bloodstream. Food must be digested before its nutrients can be absorbed.
What does it mean to "digest" information rather than just read it?
To "digest" information means to think it over carefully and fully take it in, not just skim it once. This figurative sense borrows from the physical process of digestion, suggesting the information needs time to be properly processed and understood.
What is a "digest" as a type of publication?
As a noun, a "digest" is a short summary of longer material, or a periodical made up of such condensed summaries, such as a news digest or legal digest. It is meant to give readers the key points without requiring them to read the full original text.
