digestion
UK: daɪˈdʒɛstʃən | US: daɪˈdʒɛstʃən
n. the process of breaking down food in the body for absorption and energy
n. the mental process of understanding or assimilating information
The word "digestion" originates from the Latin digestio, derived from digerere ("to separate, dissolve, or arrange"). The morpheme "digest" retains its core meaning of breaking down substances (physically or mentally), while "-ion" transforms the verb into a noun denoting the process. This reflects the logical progression from action (digesting) to its result (digestion).
Proper digestion requires chewing food thoroughly.
The book’s complex ideas required slow digestion.
Enzymes play a key role in chemical digestion.
Her lecture left me with much to digest mentally.
Poor digestion can lead to nutrient deficiencies.