peristalsis

P3E1R1I1S1T1A1L1S1I1S1
UK/ˌpɛɹɪˈstalsɪs/US/ˌpɛɹɪˈstælsɪs/US/ˌpɛɹɪˈstɑlsɪs/

noun

The coordinated, rhythmic, wavelike contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle that propels contents through a hollow organ, particularly food through the gastrointestinal tract.

Similar
enterocinesiavermiculation
Opposite
anastalsis
OriginAncient Greek δύναμις περισταλτική →
UncommonScrabble 13
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounperistalsis (countable and uncountable, plural peristalses)

plural peristalses

  1. countableuncountablemedicineThe coordinated, rhythmic, wavelike contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle that propels contents through a hollow organ, particularly food through the gastrointestinal tract.

    Synonyms: enterocinesia, vermiculation

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe coordinated, rhythmic, wavelike contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle that propels contents through a hollow organ, particularly food through the gastrointestinal tract.

Similar
enterocinesiavermiculation

More synonyms by meaning

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

Similar
vermiculation
Opposite
anastalsis
Broader
bodily processbody processbodily function
Also see
peristaltismvermiculation

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδύναμις περισταλτική“the action of the bowels by which their contents are propelled”
  2. Englishperistalsis

From Ancient Greek δύναμις περισταλτική (dúnamis peristaltikḗ, “the action of the bowels by which their contents are propelled”), from περιστέλλω (peristéllō, “to wrap around”), from περι- (peri-, “around”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to make ready, to prepare”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic تَمَعُّج
  • تَمَعُّج (tamaʕʕuj)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Bulgarian перисталтика
  • перисталтика (peristaltika)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Catalan peristaltisme, peristalsi
  • peristaltismerhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • peristalsirhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Chinese Mandarin 蠕動 /蠕动
  • 蠕動 /蠕动 (rúdòng)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Czech peristaltika, stíbavost
  • peristaltikarhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • stíbavostrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Danish peristaltik
  • peristaltikrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Finnish peristalttinen liike, peristaltiikka
  • peristalttinen liikerhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • peristaltiikkarhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
French péristaltisme
  • péristaltismerhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
German Peristaltik
  • Peristaltikrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Greek περισταλτισμός, περίσταλση
  • περισταλτισμός (peristaltismós)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • περίσταλση (perístalsi)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • περισταλτικότητα (peristaltikótita)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Hindi क्रमाकुंचन
  • क्रमाकुंचन (kramākuñcan)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Hungarian perisztaltika, gyomor- és bélmozgás
  • perisztaltikarhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • gyomor- és bélmozgásrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Indonesian peristaltik
  • peristaltikrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Italian peristalsi
  • peristalsirhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Japanese 蠕動
  • 蠕動 (zendou)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Māori kotēpana
  • kotēpanarhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Polish perystaltyka
  • perystaltykarhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Portuguese peristaltismo, peristalse
  • peristaltismorhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • peristalserhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Romanian peristaltică, peristaltism
  • peristalticărhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
  • peristaltismrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Russian периста́льтика
  • периста́льтика (peristálʹtika)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Spanish peristalsis
  • peristalsisrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Swedish peristaltik
  • peristaltikrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Tamil சுற்றிழுப்பசைவு
  • சுற்றிழுப்பசைவு (cuṟṟiḻuppacaivu)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Turkish peristalti
  • peristaltirhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Ukrainian перистальтика
  • перистальтика (perystalʹtyka)rhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Vietnamese sự nhu động
  • sự nhu độngrhythmic contraction of the digestive tract
Cite this entry
APA

peristalsis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peristalsis

MLA

“peristalsis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peristalsis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “peristalsis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peristalsis.

Source: peristalsis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.