Bile

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪl

Noun

Bile (uncountable)

1. (biochemistry) A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
2. bitterness of temper; ill humour; irascibility.
3. Two of the four humours, black bile or yellow bile, in ancient and medieval physiology.

Synonyms

• gall

Derived terms

• bile duct
• biliary
• biliary tract
• bilirubin
• bilious
• atrabilious
• black bile
• yellow bile

Thesaurus

absorption, acerbity, acid, acidity, acidulousness, acrimony, anger, animosity, asperity, assimilation, autacoid, bad humor, bad temper, biliousness, bitter resentment, bitterness, bitterness of spirit, causticity, chalone, choler, corrosiveness, digestion, digestive secretion, digestive system, discontent, endocrine, gall, gastric juice, gastrointestinal tract, gnashing of teeth, hard feelings, heartburning, hormone, ill humor, ill nature, ill temper, ingestion, intestinal juice, liver, mucus, pancreas, pancreatic digestion, pancreatic juice, predigestion, prostatic fluid, rancor, rankling, rheum, saliva, salivary digestion, salivary glands, salivary secretion, secondary digestion, semen, slow burn, soreness, sourness, sperm, spleen, tears, thyroxin, virulence