Stomach Meaning
/ˈstʌmək/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn organ in animals that stores food in the process of digestion.
nounThe belly.
Sentence Examples
My stomach is clenched with hunger.
Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your health.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He felt a strange pain in his ____ after eating the spicy meal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I had a very unsettled ____ after eating that spicy meal at the new restaurant in town yesterday.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English stomak, from Old French estomac, from Latin stomachus, from Ancient Greek στόμαχος (stómakhos), from στόμα (stóma, “mouth”). Partially displaced native Old English maga, whence Modern English maw.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Our stomachs and livers have an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down ethanol to make it less toxic for our bodies, said Atlanta gastroenterologist Dr. Preston Stewart."
— 2012 September 26, Jacque Wilson, “Experts: Alcohol enemas ‘extremely dangerous’”, in CNN:
"A new study suggests people taking popular injected medications for weight loss, including Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda and Victoza, may be at higher risk for serious digestive problems such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstructions, compared with those taking other types of weight loss medications."
— 2023 October 5, Brenda Goodman, “Researchers link popular weight loss drugs to serious digestive problems for ‘hundreds of thousands’ worldwide”, in CNN:
"Sterne was his looke, and full of stomacke vaine, / His portaunce terrible, and stature tall […]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"He was a man / Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking / Himself with princes;"
— c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act HENRY 8, scene iv], page ii, line 34:
"This sort of crying[…] proceeding from pride, obstinacy, and stomach, the will, where the fault lies, must be bent."
— 1693, [John Locke], “§108”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He felt a strange pain in his ____ after eating the spicy meal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I had a very unsettled ____ after eating that spicy meal at the new restaurant in town yesterday.