follicle

fol·li·cle | \ ˈfä-li-kəl

Definition of follicle

1a : a small anatomical cavity or deep narrow-mouthed depression

b : a small lymph node

c : a vesicle in the mammalian ovary that contains a developing egg surrounded by a covering of cells especially : graafian follicle

2 : a dry dehiscent one-celled many-seeded fruit (as of the milkweed) that has a single carpel and opens along one suture

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Examples of follicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Corpus luteum cysts: After your follicle releases an egg, the empty sac shrinks and becomes a mass of cells called corpus luteum. — Korin Miller, SELF, "What to Do If You Think an Ovarian Cyst Burst," 9 Oct. 2019 The sperms are the moonbeams and sunbeams and shadows of every thought, half thought, and follicle of feeling that have attended you since your first breath of hardship. — Ian Parker, The New Yorker, "Edna O’Brien Is Still Writing About Women on the Run," 7 Oct. 2019 And when a normal chicken is developing, certain cells, like those in the skin and feather follicles, express EDN3, which triggers the migration of melanoblasts, or the cells that go on to create color. — Jason Bittel, National Geographic, "This chicken has black bones, organs, and meat: Here’s why.," 16 Sep. 2019 The two main types of ovarian cysts are follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts, according to the Office on Women's Health (OWH). — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Kelly Clarkson Shares Health Scare After She Had an Ovarian Cyst Burst—Here's What That Means," 28 Aug. 2019 At first, Chamberlin was prescribed a 10-day round of injections with three medications, including a follicle stimulating hormone to spark as much egg growth as possible. — Pamela Tsigdinos, Marie Claire, "The Wild World of IVF, Explained," 1 Oct. 2018 Unfortunately, not everyone has Odell Beckham Jr. grade follicles, but the good news is anyone can fake it, and Tracee Ellis Ross just showed how with a clever beauty trick. — Jennifer Ford, Essence, "Tracee Ellis Ross Just Showed Us The Quickest Way To Get A Mustache," 28 Oct. 2019 More aggressive treatments include PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections for four to six months to stimulate dormant follicles and, in severe cases, a transplant. — Megan Deem, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Future Proof Your Face and Hair," 23 Sep. 2019 Seeing that this side effect could be beneficial to some, scientists developed a topical version of this drug meant to increase blood flow to the scalp, opening follicles for new growth. — Abigail Whittington, Good Housekeeping, "Does Rogaine Work? Here's Why Minoxidil Is the Best Solution for Hair Loss," 28 Aug. 2019

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

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Dictionary Entries near follicle

follicle-stimulating hormone

follicular hormone

Statistics for follicle

Last Updated

25 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Follicle.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/follicle. Accessed 7 December 2019.

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More Definitions for follicle

follicle

noun

English Language Learners Definition of follicle

: a tiny hole in the skin from which a hair grows

See the full definition for follicle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

follicle

noun

fol·li·cle | \ ˈfäl-i-kəl

Medical Definition of follicle

1 : a small anatomical cavity or deep narrow-mouthed depression especially : a small simple or slightly branched gland : crypt

2 : a small lymph node

3 : a vesicle in the mammalian ovary that contains a developing egg surrounded by a covering of cells : ovarian follicle especially : graafian follicle