Standard Lemma guide

ileus

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɪliəs/
  • rhymes with -ɪliəs

1

noun

Meaning 1

Disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract, due to failure of peristalsis.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: modern usage

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract from any cause.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Qualifier: broad definition

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • 1796, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia, Volume II: Classes of Diseases, IV: Diseases of Association, Ordo III: Retrograde Associate Motions, Genus II: Catenated with sensitive motions, The perpetual vomiting in ileus is caused in like manner by the defective excitement of the sensorial power of association by the bowel, which is torpid during the intervals of pain; and the stomach sympathizes with it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

blockage of the intestine (especially the ileum) that prevents the contents of the intestine from passing to the lower bowel

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intestinal obstruction

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: enteropathy, obstruction, blockage

History

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin īleus, from Ancient Greek εἰλεός (eileós, “intestinal obstruction”).

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: преплитане на червата (preplitane na červata) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Chinese Mandarin: 腸梗阻 /肠梗阻 (chánggěngzǔ) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Chinese Mandarin: 腸阻塞 /肠阻塞 (chángzǔsè) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Czech: ileus — obstruction of the intestines
  • Finnish: suolitukos — obstruction of the intestines
  • French: iléus — obstruction of the intestines
  • German: Darmverschluss — obstruction of the intestines
  • Ancient Greek: εἰλεός (eileós) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Kazakh: ішектік бітеліс (ışektık bıtelıs) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Polish: niedrożność jelit — obstruction of the intestines
  • Russian: кише́чная непроходи́мость (kišéčnaja neproxodímostʹ) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Russian: за́ворот кишо́к (závorot kišók) — obstruction of the intestines
  • Spanish: íleo — obstruction of the intestines
  • Swedish: tarmvred — obstruction of the intestines
  • Swedish: tarmstopp — obstruction of the intestines
  • Swedish: ileus — obstruction of the intestines