CAPILLARY

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does capillary mean? 

• CAPILLARY (noun)
  The noun CAPILLARY has 2 senses:

1. a tube of small internal diameter; holds liquid by capillary action

2. any of the minute blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules

  Familiarity information: CAPILLARY used as a noun is rare.

• CAPILLARY (adjective)
  The adjective CAPILLARY has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to hair

2. long and slender with a very small internal diameter

  Familiarity information: CAPILLARY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAPILLARY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tube of small internal diameter; holds liquid by capillary action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

capillary; capillary tube; capillary tubing

Hypernyms ("capillary" is a kind of...):

tube; tubing (conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases)

Holonyms ("capillary" is a part of...):

thermometer (measuring instrument for measuring temperature)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of the minute blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

capillary; capillary vessel

Hypernyms ("capillary" is a kind of...):

blood vessel (a vessel in which blood circulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "capillary"):

glomerulus (a small intertwined group of capillaries in the malpighian body; it filters the blood during urine formation)

tomentum; tomentum cerebri (a network of tiny blood vessels between the cerebral surface of the pia mater and the cerebral cortex)

• CAPILLARY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to hair

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

hair (a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Long and slender with a very small internal diameter

Synonyms:

capillary; hairlike

Context example:

a capillary tube

Similar:

thin (of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section)

Derivation:

capillarity (a phenomenon associated with surface tension and resulting in the elevation or depression of liquids in capillaries)

 Context examples 

A capillary hemangioma arising from the breast.

(Breast Capillary Hemangioma, NCI Thesaurus)

A capillary or cavernous hemangioma arising from the breast.

(Breast Hemangioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Chronic glomerulonephritis characterized histologically by proliferation of mesangial cells, increase in the mesangial matrix, and a thickening of the glomerular capillary walls.

(Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A thin membrane in the central part of the renal glomerulus between capillaries.

(Mesangium, NCI Thesaurus)

Tiny human blood vessels — known as capillaries- had developed inside the mice which nourished the new kidney structures.

(Scientists Create Functioning Kidney Tissue, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Capillary tissue is composed of a single layer of endothelium and connective tissue.

(Blood Vessel Tissue, NCI Thesaurus)

It is further characterized by an inflammatory reaction of the glomerular capillaries due to the proliferation of mesangial cells and expansion of the mesangial matrix.

(Nephrotic Syndrome with Lesion of Proliferative Glomerulonephritis, NCI Thesaurus)

The movement of blood to and from the heart and to the rest of the body's organs, tissues, and cells through the network of arteries, veins, and capillaries.

(Blood Circulation, NCI Thesaurus)

A test tube, capillary tube, or other tube designed for the collection of blood.

(Blood Collection Tube, NCI Thesaurus)

Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

(Blood vessel, NCI Dictionary)