peristalsis

noun

the process of wavelike muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along

Roots

periperi- · Greek · around stelleinstal- · Greek · to place, contract, draw in sis-sis · Greek · process, action

Synonyms & related words for peristalsis

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Words related to peristalsis

Explore words related to peristalsis — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include vermiculation, antiperistalsis, peristaltic, antiperistaltic, bowel, pyloric, disbowel, intestine. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does peristalsis come from?

The word peristalsis breaks down into 3 roots of Greek origin: peri-, from Greek peri (“around”); stal, from Greek stellein (“to place, contract, draw in”); and -sis, from Greek sis (“process, action”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.