ingest

Everyday

1. (formal) To ingest is to take food, drink, medicine or another substance into your body by swallowing it. tree →
2. (formal) To ingest information is to take it in and absorb it. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on digestion, ingestion is the first step: food is ingested (eaten), then digested, absorbed and the waste is egested. Safety labels say «harmful if ingested», meaning dangerous to swallow: cleaning products, batteries, some plants. In the exam voice, «ingest» replaces «eat» or «swallow». Phrases: «harmful if ingested», «ingest food», «accidentally ingested».

Examples

• Bleach is harmful if ingested. tree →
• Animals ingest food through their mouths. tree →
• The dog ingested a sock and had to see the vet. tree →
• If a child ingests a battery, go to hospital straight away. tree →
• Whales ingest tiny plastic bits from the sea. tree →
• Plants do not ingest food; they make it from sunlight. tree →

Note

Formal word; in everyday talk say «swallow» or «eat». Noun: «ingestion». Opposite in science: «egest» (get rid of waste). Do not confuse with «digest» (break down food inside the body) or «inject» (put in with a needle).