Digestive
/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to or aiding digestion.
/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/
Relating to the process of digesting food.
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food.
💡 Simply: Imagine your tummy is a super cool food-processing plant! The digestive system is like all the machines and helpers in that plant that break down your food so you can get energy. For example, the digestive enzymes help break down food into pieces your body can use.
👶 For kids: Something that helps your body break down food so you can use it for energy.
More Examples
Certain foods can be difficult to digest.
The doctor recommended a digestive aid.
How It's Used
"The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients."
"Taking a digestive enzyme can aid in breaking down food."
Promoting or aiding the process of digestion.
/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/
Aiding digestion or promoting healthy digestion.
Ginger is known for its digestive properties.
💡 Simply: Something that helps your body digest food better. Imagine you're trying to eat a giant pizza, digestive aids help make that easier on your tummy. For example, digestive biscuits or certain teas can help.
👶 For kids: Something that helps your tummy break down food.
More Examples
The herbal tea was promoted as a digestive remedy.
This biscuit is called digestive because it is designed to make food easier to digest.
How It's Used
"Fiber-rich foods are often considered digestive aids."
"A digestive biscuit is designed to assist in digestion."
Idioms & expressions
digestive biscuit
A type of biscuit that is thought to aid digestion and often contains whole wheat flour.
"I often have a digestive biscuit with my tea."
digestive enzymes
Enzymes produced by the body to break down food into smaller, absorbable molecules.
"Digestive enzymes are crucial for proper nutrient absorption."
From Late Latin *digestivus*, from *digerere* 'to separate, digest', from *dis-* 'apart' + *gerere* 'to carry, bear'.
The word 'digestive' has been used in medical contexts since the 17th century, initially related to the process of converting food into nutrients. Its connection to products like digestive biscuits appeared in the 19th century.
Memory tip
Think of 'digestive' like a system that helps your body digest food, much like a machine processing fuel.
Word Origin
"to separate, digest"