corpuscle

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noun cor·pus·cle \ˈkȯr-(ˌ)pə-səl\

Definition of corpuscle

1 : a minute particle
2a : a living cell; especially : one (such as a red or white blood cell or a cell in cartilage or bone) not aggregated into continuous tissuesb : any of various small circumscribed multicellular bodies

corpuscular

play \kȯr-ˈpə-skyə-lər\ adjective

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Recent Examples of corpuscle from the Web

Not visible to the naked eye, but there nevertheless, Hagengruber assures me, is a red corpuscle-sized dot that represents 10-9, one-billionth of the cube.

— richard rapaport, WIRED, "The Playground of Big Science", 1 Oct. 1995

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'corpuscle'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of corpuscle

Latin corpusculum, diminutive of corpus

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First Known Use: 1660

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CORPUSCLE Defined for English Language Learners

corpuscle

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noun

Definition of corpuscle for English Language Learners

biology : one of the cells that move in the body; especially : a blood cell

CORPUSCLE Defined for Kids

corpuscle

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noun cor·pus·cle \ˈkȯr-ˌpə-səl\

Definition of corpuscle for Students

: a very small cell (as a red blood cell) that floats freely in the blood

Medical Dictionary

corpuscle

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noun cor·pus·cle \ˈkȯr-(ˌ)pəs-əl\

Medical Definition of corpuscle

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