digest

digest definition - medical

di·gest (dī-jĕstˈ, dĭ-)

verb
  1. To convert food into simpler chemical compounds that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body, as by chemical and muscular action in the alimentary canal.
  2. To soften or disintegrate by means of chemical action, heat, or moisture.

Related Forms:

  • di·gestˌi·bilˈi·ty noun

Related Forms:

  • di·gestˈi·ble adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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