I. stom ‧ ach 1 S3 W3 /ˈstʌmək/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: estomac , from Latin stomachus 'throat, stomach' , from Greek stomachos , from stoma 'mouth' ]
1 . the organ inside your body where food begins to be ↑ digest ed :
I was so hungry my stomach hurt.
His stomach was full of food.
2 . the front part of your body, below your chest:
He turned round and punched Carlos in the stomach.
3 . do something on an empty stomach to do something when you have not eaten:
You shouldn’t take the pills on an empty stomach.
4 . turn your stomach to make you feel sick or upset:
The sight of the slaughtered cow turned my stomach.
5 . have no stomach for a fight/task etc to have no desire to do something difficult, upsetting, or frightening
6 . have a strong stomach to be able to see or do things that are unpleasant without feeling sick or upset:
Don’t go and see this film unless you have a strong stomach.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ full (=full of food)
A lot of these children don't know what it is like to have a full stomach.
▪ empty (=with no food in)
It was 11 o'clock, and my stomach was empty.
▪ an upset stomach (=a stomach affected by illness)
Debbie was at home because she had an upset stomach.
■ stomach + NOUN
▪ (a) stomach ache
I had terrible stomach ache last night.
▪ stomach pains/cramps
He complained of acute stomach pains.
▪ a stomach bug (=an illness you have caught that affects your stomach)
He's off work with a stomach bug.
▪ a stomach upset (=when your stomach is affected by illness)
The boy had a stomach upset after eating berries from the garden.
▪ a stomach ulcer
Too much stress can cause stomach ulcers.
▪ stomach cancer
She was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year.
■ verbs
▪ somebody's stomach rumbles (=it makes a noise because they are hungry)
She felt her stomach rumble.
▪ somebody's stomach churns (=they feel sick because they are nervous or frightened)
Her stomach was churning with anxiety.
▪ somebody's stomach lurches/tightens (=it suddenly feels tight because they are frightened)
Her stomach lurched at the thought of leaving Millfield.
▪ settle somebody's stomach (=to stop it feeling uncomfortable)
The doctor gave me some tablets to settle my stomach.
II. stomach 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive usually in negatives]
1 . to be able to accept something, especially something unpleasant SYN endure :
A 26% water rate increase is more than most residents can stomach.
hard/difficult to stomach
Rob found Cathy’s attitude hard to stomach.
2 . to eat something without becoming ill:
I’ve never been able to stomach seafood.