Capsule

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈkæps(É™)l/
• (UK and Australia) IPA: /ˈkæpsjuːl/

Origin

From French capsule.

Full definition of capsule

Noun

1. (physiology) A membranous envelope.
2. (botany) A type of simple, dehiscent, dry fruit (seed-case) produced by many species of flowering plants, such as poppy, lily, orchid, willow and cotton.
3. (botany) A sporangium, especially in bryophytes.
• Schuster Hepaticae V|4-5The epidermal cells of the capsule wall of Jubulopsis, with nodose "trigones" at the angles, are very reminiscent of what one finds in Frullania spp.
4. A detachable part of a rocket or spacecraft (usually in the nose) containing the crew's living space.
5. (pharmacy) A small container containing a dose of medicine.
6. (dialectal, UK, Suffolk) A weasel.
7. (attributively, figuratively) in a brief, condensed or compact form
• 1962, John F. Kennedy, :If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred.
8. (winemaking) The covering — formerly lead or tin, now often plastic — over the cork at the top of the wine bottle.
9. (chemistry, dated) A small clay saucer for roasting or melting samples of ores, etc.; a scorifier.
10. A small, shallow evaporating dish, usually of porcelain.
11. A small cup or shell, often of metal, for a percussion cap, cartridge, etc.

Derived terms

• capsular
• capsule review
• Glissonian capsule

Anagrams

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