the lower part of the alimentary canal, between the sigmoid flexure of the colon and the anus
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rec•tum /ˈrɛktəm/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -tums, -ta /-tə/.USA pronunciation
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Anatomythe straight, final part of the large intestine, ending in the anus.
rec•tum
(rek′təm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -tums, -ta (-tə).USA pronunciation [Anat.]
- Anatomythe comparatively straight, terminal section of the intestine, ending in the anus. See diag. under intestine.
- Neo-Latin rēctum (intestīnum) the straight (intestine)
- 1535–45
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'rectum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Entoprocta
- achalasia
- anorectal
- ass
- back passage
- body-packer
- bougie
- clinical thermometer
- colon
- colorectal
- enema
- evacuator
- haemorrhoids
- hemorrhoid
- hindgut
- internal
- intestine
- large intestine
- latus rectum
- mesorectum
- pinworm
- pr
- proctitis
- procto
- proctoclysis
- proctology
- proctoscope
- recta
- rectal
- rectocele
- scatoma
- sigmoid flexure
- sigmoidoscope
- suppository