bile

noun

\ ˈbī(-ə)l

Definition of bile

1a : either of two humors associated in old physiology with irascibility and melancholy

b : a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats

2a : inclination to anger

b : acrimony, vitriol

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about bile

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Examples of bile in a Sentence

One writer objected to what she described as “the bile that is spewed from the newspaper's editorial page.” with considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness

Recent Examples on the Web

The practitioner dealt mostly with plants and relied on the ancient system called the Four Humors, which focused on bile, phlegm, and blood. — Dennis Hohenberger, courant.com, "Horticulturalist Gives History Of The Apothecary," 30 Aug. 2019 The pancreas can be pressing on the duct that clears the bile out of the liver, and therefore causes jaundice, the yellowness of the eyes. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Aretha Franklin's Detroit-based doctor talks about the cancer that took her life," 16 Aug. 2019 Sun bears and Asiatic black bears are captured from forests or captive-bred so that traders can extract bile from their gallbladders. — Jani Actman, National Geographic, "How can traditional Chinese medicine threaten wildlife?," 17 June 2019 What was triggering this barrage of you’re-a-moron bile? — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: In Appreciation of the Serena/Murray Doubles Team at Wimbledon," 10 July 2019 The gallbladder is a small-ish, somewhat optional organ that stores bile produced by the liver. — Kate Wehr, Good Housekeeping, "Gallstones Are the Pregnancy Complication No One Warned Me About," 18 Apr. 2019 That last bit involves strangling on the spit and bile in my mouth. — Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, "Gene Weingarten: How to deal with profound impatience? Try the Glass Bowl method.," 20 June 2019 Farming China began farming bears to extract their bile in the 1980s. — National Geographic, "Bear bile, explained," 12 June 2019 During the process, the bears are usually kept in tiny cages and live with a permanent catheter, to drain the bile, that can rust or otherwise degrade. — Jani Actman, National Geographic, "How can traditional Chinese medicine threaten wildlife?," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for bile

bile

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bile

: a yellow or greenish liquid that is made by the liver and that helps the body to digest fats

: anger or hatred

See the full definition for bile in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bile

noun

\ ˈbīl

Kids Definition of bile

: a thick bitter yellow or greenish fluid produced by the liver to aid in digestion of fats in the small intestine

bile

noun

\ ˈbī(ə)l

Medical Definition of bile

1 : a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats

— called also fel

2 : either of two humors associated in old physiology with irascibility and melancholy

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bile

Definition of bile

Synonyms for bile

Examples of bile in a Sentence

First Known Use of bile

History and Etymology for bile

English Language Learners Definition of bile

Kids Definition of bile

Medical Definition of bile

bile

Definition of bile

Synonyms for bile

Examples of bile in a Sentence

First Known Use of bile

History and Etymology for bile

English Language Learners Definition of bile

Kids Definition of bile

Medical Definition of bile

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