fibril

noun

fi·​bril ˈfī-brəl How to pronounce fibril (audio) ˈfi- How to pronounce fibril (audio)
: a small filament or fiber: such as
a
b(1)
: one of the fine threads into which a striated muscle fiber can be longitudinally split
(2)
fibrillar adjective

Examples of fibril in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Misfolded proteins start to clump together into small aggregates, then bigger chains called fibrils, and finally into huge, rectangular structures called amyloid. Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023 Five of these helices wind together to make up a microfibril, and thousands of microfibrils gather to form a fibril. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 15 June 2011 Finally, there is convincing evidence that the most readily detectable form of amyloid, known as a fibril, is not the worst type. Sam Gandy, STAT, 17 June 2021 Some researchers thought the mineral was mostly contained inside fibrils; others believed the mineral cladded the protein like armor. Angus Chen, Scientific American, 3 May 2018 The image that is a dehydration and oxidation of the linen fibers goes only two to three fibrils into the cloth. Joanne Berger Dumound/special To Cleveland.com., cleveland.com, 19 Feb. 2018 Perhaps the fibrils could help women eliminate bad sperm. Giorgia Guglielmi, Science | AAAS, 11 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fibril.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin fibrilla, diminutive of Latin fibra

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fibril was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near fibril

Cite this Entry

“Fibril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fibril. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

fibril

noun
fi·​bril ˈfīb-rəl How to pronounce fibril (audio) ˈfib- How to pronounce fibril (audio)
: a small filament or fiber: as
a
: one of the fine threads into which a striated muscle fiber can be longitudinally split
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