n., pl., -ses (-sēz).
The wavelike muscular contractions of the alimentary canal or other tubular structures by which contents are forced onward toward the opening.
[New Latin, from Greek peristaltikos, peristaltic, from peristellein, to wrap around : peri-, peri- + stellein, to place.]
peristaltic per'i·stal'tic (-stôl'tĭk, -stăl'-) adj.peristaltically per'i·stal'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
