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digest

digest [ dī jést ]


verb  (3rd person present singular digests, present participle digesting, past and past participle digested)
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb process food: to process food in the body into a form that can be absorbed and used or excreted

2. transitive verb absorb something mentally: to think about something and come to understand or appreciate what it means

3. transitive verb organize something systematically: to organize something into a system, often through selective condensing of the various items

4. transitive verb abridge something: to make a summary of something, often a written work

5. transitive and intransitive verb chemistry break down: to soften or break down a substance through exposure to heat, water, chemicals, enzymes, or bacteria, or be broken down in this way



noun  (plural digests)
Definition:
 
1. summary: a shortened version of a work that contains the most important or interesting information from the original version

2. collection of abridged pieces: a magazine, book, or broadcast that contains shortened versions of articles or stories originally from different sources

3. law collection of legal opinions: a systematic compilation of laws or legal opinions

[14th century. < Latin digest-, past participle of digerere 'carry apart' < gerere 'carry']
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