corpuscle

noun

cor·​pus·​cle ˈkȯr-(ˌ)pə-səl 

1

: a minute particle

2

a

: a living cell

especially : one (such as a red or white blood cell or a cell in cartilage or bone) not aggregated into continuous tissues

b

: any of various small circumscribed multicellular bodies

corpuscular

kȯr-ˈpə-skyə-lər 

adjective

Examples of corpuscle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like Meissner corpuscles, Krause corpuscles detect vibration. —Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

Like Meissner and Krause corpuscles, these sensors are tuned to vibration, but at much higher frequencies — as high as 1,000 hertz. —Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

In the 1990s Dr Semenza was studying erythropoiesis, the process that generates red blood corpuscles. —The Economist, 12 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin corpusculum "small body, minute particle," from corpus-, base of corpor-, corpus "body" + -culum, diminutive suffix (variant of -ulus with nouns of the third, fourth and fifth declensions) — more at midriff

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corpuscle

• Malpighian corpuscle
• Pacinian corpuscle
• red blood corpuscle
• red corpuscle

Kids Definition

corpuscle

noun

cor·​pus·​cle ˈkȯr-(ˌ)pəs-əl 

1

: a very small particle

2

: one of the very small cells (as a red blood cell) that float freely in the blood

corpuscular

kȯr-ˈpəs-kyə-lər 

adjective

Medical Definition

corpuscle

noun

cor·​pus·​cle ˈkȯr-(ˌ)pəs-əl 

1

: a living cell

especially : one (as a red or white blood cell or a cell in cartilage or bone) not aggregated into continuous tissues

2

: any of various small circumscribed multicellular bodies

—usually used with a qualifying term

Malpighian corpuscles

corpuscular

kȯr-ˈpəs-kyə-lər 

adjective