follicle

noun fol·li·cle \ ˈfä-li-kəl \

|Updated on: 22 Jul 2018

Definition of follicle

1 a : 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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follicular

play \fə-ˈli-kyə-lər, fä-\ adjective

See follicle defined for English-language learners

See follicle defined for kids

Recent Examples of follicle from the Web

They are known to cause dormant follicles to resume hair production, and maintain the new hair.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hair regrowth treatment now being tested in women by La Jolla's Histogen," 12 July 2018
Those short hairs, sticking straight up from their follicles, may even appear coarser.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "Fact or Fiction?: If You Shave (or Wax), Your Hair Will Come Back Thicker," 26 Aug. 2014
Pors then seeded this scaffold with immature human or mouse follicles and grafted the complex into female mice.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "How Artificial Ovaries Could Expand Fertility Options For Chemo Patients," 5 July 2018
In order to retrieve eggs, the researchers put the animal under anesthesia, then used an ultrasound machine to guide a long needle into her uterus, puncture her follicles and dislodge the eggs.

— deborah netburn, latimes.com, "How IVF might save northern white rhinos, the world's most endangered species," 4 July 2018
Seeking insight into the condition, Paolo Giacobini, a neuroendocrinologist at the University of Lille in France, focused on antimüllerian hormone (AMH), which is produced by small follicles on the ovary.

— jennifer couzin-frankel, Science | AAAS, "Scientists may be closer to understanding a mysterious but common cause of female infertility," 14 May 2018
Massage your scalp with your fingers every time you shampoo to work all the gunk off of your scalp and increase blood flow for happier, healthier, more active follicles. 7.

— tomoko takeda canel, Seventeen, "10 Genius Hacks For Making Your Hair Grow Faster," 26 Oct. 2017
After such a great deal of time, my follicles were still as strong as ever and but a few small patches had responded to treatment.

— trésor prijs, Teen Vogue, "How My Beard Affects My Gender Identity as a Trans Femme," 1 June 2018
The follicle stimulating hormone test (FSH) and the antimullerian hormone (AMH) blood tests gives me a sense of my ovarian reserve.

— nicole ellis, Washington Post, "‘Should I freeze my eggs?’: A doctor’s second opinion made all the difference," 2 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of follicle

New Latin folliculus, from Latin, diminutive of follis bag — more at fool

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1646

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

FOLLICLE Defined for English Language Learners

follicle

noun

Definition of follicle for English Language Learners

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

Medical 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

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