Ingestion

/ɪnˈdʒɛstʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of taking food or drink into the body through the mouth for digestion.

Etymology

From Latin 'ingestus,' past participle of 'ingerere' meaning 'to carry in' (in- meaning 'in' + gerere meaning 'to carry'). It entered English as a medical/scientific term in the 17th century.

Kelly Says

Your body doesn't actually 'digest' food until it reaches your stomach—everything before that is just 'ingestion.' But the famous word 'ingest' is used in toxicology to describe poison entering the body, which is why detectives talk about a victim ingesting something.

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