capsule

¹cap·sule

noun \ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül also -ˌsyül\

Definition of CAPSULE

1

a : a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (as a knee joint or kidney)

b : either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum

2

: a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: as

a : a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels

b : the spore case of a moss

3

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins); also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

4

: an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism

5

: an extremely brief condensation : outline, survey

6

a : a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment

b : a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)

Examples of CAPSULE

1. <took an antibiotic capsule three times a day for a week>
2. <a capsule containing all sorts of items from our era that is to be opened 100 years from now>

Origin of CAPSULE

French, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa box — more at case

First Known Use: circa 1693

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms

cap, pill, lozenge, tablet

Related Words

cure, drug, medication, medicinal, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific; miracle drug, wonder drug; potion, preparation; dosage, dose; drop, gelcap; bolus, pilule

Near Antonyms

amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement

Other Pharmacology Terms

anodyne, cathartic, emetic, emollient, liniment, paregoric, poultice, purgative, soporific, spectrum

²capsule

transitive verb

cap·suledcap·sul·ing

Definition of CAPSULE

1

: to equip with or enclose in a capsule

2

: to condense into or devise in a compact form

Examples of CAPSULE

1. <newscasts that capsule complex, important stories into one-minute bits for easy digestion by viewers>

First Known Use of CAPSULE

1859

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms

compress, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope

Antonyms

decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch

Related Words

cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; boil down, downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; simplify, streamline; decrease, diminish, lessen

Near Antonyms

dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter; distend, inflate, swell

³capsule

adjective

Definition of CAPSULE

1

: extremely brief

2

: small and very compact

Examples of CAPSULE

1. <capsule reviews of the latest offerings at the multiplex>

First Known Use of CAPSULE

1938

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms

aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, concise, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Antonyms

circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

Related Words

abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), short, snippety, snippy; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, curtailed, shortened; meaty, substantial; meaningful, significant; well-turned

Near Antonyms

pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated

cap·sule

noun \ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CAPSULE

1

a : a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ <the capsule of the kidney> b : either of two layers or laminae of white matter in the cerebrum: (1) : a layer that consists largely of fibers passing to and from the cerebral cortex and that lies internal to the lentiform nucleus—called also internal capsule (2) : one that lies between the lentiform nucleus and the claustrum—called also external capsule

2

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins); also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

3

: a viscous or gelatinous often polysaccharide envelope surrounding certain microscopic organisms (as the pneumococcus)

Illustration of CAPSULE

capsule

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In botany, a dry fruit that opens when ripe. It splits from top to bottom into separate segments known as valves, as in the iris, or forms pores at the top (e.g., poppy), or splits around the circumference, with the top falling off (e.g., pigweed and plantain). The spore-forming organ (see sporophyte) of liverworts and mosses is also called a capsule.