Definition of capillary
1a : resembling a hair especially in slender elongated form capillary leavesb : having a very small bore a capillary tube
2 : involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension capillary water in the soil
3 : of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
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Origin and Etymology of capillary
French or Latin; French capillaire, from Latin capillaris, from capillus hair
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Anatomy Terms
capillary
Definition of capillary
capillaries
1 : a minute thin-walled vessel of the body; especially : any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body
2 : a tube (as of glass) having a very small bore
1667
First Known Use of capillary
1667
Other Anatomy Terms
CAPILLARY Defined for English Language Learners
capillary
Definition of capillary for English Language Learners
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: one of the many very small tubes that carry blood within the body : the smallest kind of blood vessel
CAPILLARY Defined for Kids
Definition of capillary for Students
1 : having a long slender form and a small inner diameter a capillary tube
2 : of or relating to capillary action or a capillary
Definition of capillary for Students
capillaries
: one of the slender hairlike tubes that are the smallest blood vessels and connect arteries with veins
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of capillary
1a: resembling a hair especially in slender elongated formb: having a very small bore a capillary tube
2: involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension
3: of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
capillary
Medical Definition of capillary
capillaries
1: a minute thin-walled vessel of the body; especially : any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body
2: a capillary tube
Illustration of capillary
Learn More about capillary
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See words that rhyme with capillary Spanish Central: Translation of capillary Nglish: Translation of capillary for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of capillary for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about capillary
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