Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "bowel" []

  • The intestine. Often used in the plural. (noun)
  • A part or division of the intestine: the large bowel. (noun)
  • The interior of something: in the bowels of the ship. (noun)
  • Archaic The seat of pity or the gentler emotions. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "bowel" in a sentence
  • "The bowel is returned to the abdominal cavity, and the abdominal wall is closed during one procedure."
  • "On the day of the procedure, your child will have an abdominal X-ray to determine whether the bowel is clean of stool."
  • "If so, the bowel is covered by a sheet of protective material and gradually returns to the abdominal cavity by gravity."