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Vomit Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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vomit

[ˈvɒmɪt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

after drinking too much alcohol

To eject matter from the stomach through the mouth, often as a result of illness or excessive consumption of alcohol. Vomiting is the body's way of getting rid of harmful substances.

Synonyms

puke, regurgitate, throw up.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
vomit

Formal medical or clinical descriptions, or when discussing health issues.

  • The patient began to vomit after taking the medication.
  • Vomiting is one of the symptoms of food poisoning.
throw up

Casual contexts, but more neutral than 'puke'. Often used in everyday conversation.

  • I think I'm going to throw up.
  • She threw up after eating something bad.
regurgitate

Scientific or veterinary contexts, often used to describe animals bringing up partially digested food. Can also refer to repeating information without understanding it.

  • Birds often regurgitate food to feed their chicks.
  • The student just regurgitated the information without really understanding it.
puke

Casual, informal conversations, often used among friends or in informal settings. It can have a slightly negative or crude tone.

  • I felt so sick, I thought I was going to puke.
  • He puked all over the floor after the party.

Examples of usage

  • He vomited all over the bathroom floor after a night of heavy drinking.
  • The smell of vomit filled the room after the patient became nauseous.
  • She felt the urge to vomit after eating spoiled food.
Context #2 | Noun

medical context

The act of ejecting matter from the stomach through the mouth. Vomiting can be a symptom of various illnesses or conditions.

Synonyms

barf, emesis, retching.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
vomit

Widely used in both formal and informal contexts to describe the act of throwing up.

  • She felt nauseous and began to vomit
  • The doctor will evaluate the cause of your frequent vomiting
emesis

Technical and medical term, usually found in medical settings or documents.

  • The patient experienced emesis after the surgery
  • Anti-emetic drugs are used to prevent emesis
retching

Describes the action of dry heaving or making the movements of vomiting without expelling anything. Often implies discomfort.

  • He was retching over the sink but nothing came out
  • The smell of the garbage made her start retching
barf

Informal and often considered slang; typically used in casual conversation or by young people.

  • I think I’m going to barf if I eat any more of this
  • He barfed all over the floor

Examples of usage

  • The doctor asked about the frequency of the patient's vomit.
  • She experienced severe bouts of vomiting after eating contaminated food.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Medical Insights

  • Vomit can be a sign of many things, from motion sickness to food poisoning, as the body tries to remove harmful substances.
  • A doctor may refer to vomiting as emesis, which is derived from Greek, highlighting its common use in medical terminology.
  • In extreme cases, persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration and require medical attention to restore fluids.

Cultural References

  • Vomiting has been depicted in various forms of media, often used for comedic effect in movies or cartoons.
  • In some cultures, it has been viewed as a spiritual or cleansing act, symbolizing the expulsion of negative energy.
  • Popular phrases like 'puke and rally' in sports culture embrace the idea of overcoming nausea to continue performing.

Biological Functions

  • The act of vomiting is controlled by the brain, particularly the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata.
  • Humans possess a natural gag reflex, which helps prevent choking and can signal when something is wrong with ingested food.
  • Some animals, like dogs and cats, vomit as a way to rid their bodies of indigestible materials or food they shouldn’t have eaten.

Psychological Aspects

  • Nausea and vomiting can have psychological triggers, such as anxiety or stress, leading to a condition called psychogenic vomiting.
  • Certain smells or tastes can evoke a strong reflex to vomit, showing how our senses are connected to our memories and emotions.
  • In eating disorders like bulimia, vomiting is incorrectly used as a method of weight control, which is harmful to health.

Historical Context

  • Throughout history, vomiting has been both feared and treated with various remedies, from herbal concoctions to surgical interventions.
  • In ancient times, some believed vomiting was necessary for health, prompting people to use emetics, substances intended to induce it.
  • The Ancient Greeks viewed vomiting as a purging process, where physicians used it to diagnose conditions and balance bodily humors.

Origin of 'vomit'

The word 'vomit' originated from the Latin word 'vomitus', which means 'to discharge the stomach'. The act of vomiting has been recorded throughout history as a natural bodily response to expel harmful substances. In ancient times, vomiting was sometimes induced for medical purposes, such as purging the body of toxins. Today, vomiting is understood as a protective mechanism of the body to prevent the absorption of harmful substances.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,460, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.