Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

peristalsis

/ˌpɛɹɪˈstælsɪs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.88 in modern English

Syllables
peri-stal-sis
IPA
/ˌpɛɹɪˈstælsɪs/
13
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The coordinated, rhythmic, wavelike contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle that propels contents through a hollow organ, particularly food through the gastrointestinal tract.

Countable; Uncountable

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δύναμις περισταλτική (dúnamis peristaltikḗ, “the action of the bowels by which their contents are propelled”), from περιστέλλω (peristéllō, “to wrap around”), from περι- (peri-, “around”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to make ready, to prepare”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *stel-, δύναμις περισταλτική

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˌpɛɹɪˈstælsɪs/
  • British English: /ˌpɛɹɪˈstalsɪs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

peristalses (plural)

Derived Forms

antiperistalsis aperistalsis dysperistalsis hyperperistalsis hypoperistalsis normoperistalsis peristaltic peristaltically retroperistalsis

Synonyms

enterocinesia vermiculation

Questions

How do you pronounce peristalsis?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌpɛɹɪˈstælsɪs/.
What does peristalsis mean?
The coordinated, rhythmic, wavelike contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle that propels contents through a hollow organ, particularly food through the gastrointestinal tract.
Where does peristalsis come from?
It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce peristalsis

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