In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intestine into the blood stream. Digestion is a form of catabolism that is often divided into two processes based on how food is broken down: mechanical and chemical digestion. The term mechanical digestion refers to the physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces which can subsequently be accessed by digestive enzymes.
shibboleth (plural shibboleths) 1  A word, especially seen as a test, to distinguish someone as belonging to a particular nation, class, profession etc. 2  A common or longstanding belief, custom, or catchphrase associated with a particular group, especially one with little current meaning or truth. It's about time we abandoned the bourgeois shibboleth that earning money makes you a better person.
Definition of shibboleth for English Language Learners. : 1  an old idea, opinion, or saying that is commonly believed and repeated but that may be seen as old-fashioned or untrue. : 2  a word or way of speaking or behaving which shows that a person belongs to a particular group.