arteriole

noun

ar·​te·​ri·​ole är-ˈtir-ē-ˌōl 

: any of the small terminal twigs of an artery that ends in capillaries

arteriolar

är-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-ˌlär 

-lər

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French and New Latin; French artériole, borrowed from New Latin artēriola, from Latin artēria artery + -ola, diminutive suffix

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

arteriole

noun

ar·​te·​ri·​ole är-ˈtir-ē-ˌōl 

: a very small artery connecting a larger artery to capillaries

arteriolar

är-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-ˌlär 

-lər

adjective

Medical Definition

arteriole

noun

ar·​te·​ri·​ole är-ˈtir-ē-ˌōl 

: any of the small terminal twigs of an artery that ends in capillaries

arteriolar

-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-ˌlär, -lər 

adjective