Digestion
daɪˈdʒestʃən
Definitions
The process by which the body breaks down food into substances that can be absorbed and used for energy and growth.
daɪˈdʒestʃən
The process of breaking down food in the body.
Good chewing aids in digestion.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're taking apart a Lego castle piece by piece. Digestion is your body doing the same thing to the food you eat – breaking it down into tiny pieces it can use for energy and building blocks. It's like your body's way of 'un-building' and then 're-building' the nutrients in the food.
👶 For kids: When you eat food, your body breaks it down into small pieces so you can use it. That breaking down is called digestion!
More Examples
The process of digestion takes several hours.
Problems with digestion can sometimes be caused by eating too quickly.
How It's Used
"Proper digestion is essential for absorbing nutrients."
"The study of digestion involves the roles of enzymes and the different organs of the digestive system."
From Latin *digestio*, from *digerere* meaning 'to separate, divide, dissolve'. The word developed to describe the breakdown of food in the body.
The term has been used since the late 14th century, initially referring to the general process of breaking down or arranging anything.
Memory tip
Think of how you "digest" information; the body "digests" food in a similar way, breaking it down.