n., pl., -tums, or -ta (-tə).
The terminal portion of the large intestine, extending from the sigmoid colon to the anal canal.
[Middle English, from Latin (intestīnum) rēctum, straight (intestine), neuter of rēctus.]
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.
