digest

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
digest

▶verb /dʌɪˈdʒɛst, dɪ-/ 

• 1 break down (food) in the stomach and intestines into substances that can be used by the body.

• 2 Chemistry treat (a substance) with heat, enzymes, or a solvent in order to break it down.

• 3 understand or assimilate (information) by reflection.

• 4 arrange in a systematic or convenient order, especially by reduction.

▶noun /ˈdʌɪdʒɛst/ 

• 1 a compilation or summary of information.

  ■ a methodical summary of a body of laws.

  ■ (the Digest) the compendium of Roman law compiled in the reign of the emperor Justinian.

• 2 Chemistry a substance or mixture obtained by digestion.

– derivatives
digester noun,
digestibility noun,
digestible adjective.

– origin ME: from L. digest-, digerere ‘distribute, dissolve, digest’; the noun is from L. digesta ‘matters methodically arranged’.