digest Hear it!

digest definition

di·gest (jest′; for v. di jest, dī-)

noun

  1. a condensed but comprehensive account of a body of information; summary or synopsis, as of scientific, legal, or literary material
  2. a book, periodical, etc. consisting chiefly of such summaries or synopses or of articles condensed from other publications
  3. Rom. Law the Pandects of the Emperor Justinian

Etymology: ME < L digesta (in LL, a collection of writings), orig. pl. of digestus, pp. of digerere, to separate, explain < di-, apart + gerere, to bear, carry

transitive verb

    1. to arrange or classify systematically, usually in condensed form
    2. to condense (a piece of writing) by briefly summarizing its contents
  1. to change (food), esp. in the mouth, stomach, and intestines by the action of gastric and intestinal juices, enzymes, and bacteria, into a form that can be absorbed by the body
  2. to aid the digestion of (food)
  3. to think over and absorb
  4. to soften, disintegrate, etc. by the use of heat, usually together with water or other liquid

Etymology: ME digesten < L digestus: see digestthe

intransitive verb

  1. to be digested
  2. to digest food

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
digest Synonyms

digest

n.


digest

v.

  1. To transform food

    assimilate, break down, ingest, chymify; see absorb 1, eat 1.

  2. To understand by deliberation

    consider, analyze, think over; see think 1, understand 1.

  3. To summarize

    condense, abstract, survey, abbreviate; see decrease 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

digest Usage Examples

Object

  • sludge: Soil erosion Soil erosion is reduced where digested sludge from farm slurry digester schemes provides a good fertilizer.

Subject

  • enzyme: We are told that DNA is easily digested by enzymes in our gut.

Adjective modifier

  • thematic: It is also edited and used to produce thirty-three thematic digests, including one relating to publishing.

Modifying Another Word

  • inwardly: After all you have read and inwardly digested the article.

Preposition: in

  • stomach: Food is absorbed and digested in the stomach, so mainly roughage and water are lost by the time it reaches the bowel.

Preposition: with

  • enzyme: Reducing lignin content also leads to plants more readily digested with enzymes or chemicals.

Preposition: by

  • enzyme: We are told that DNA is easily digested by enzymes in our gut.
digest usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

digest quotes

Hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.

-Book of Common Prayer

digest quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"digest." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/digest>

APA Style

digest. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/digest

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment