hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment see hair illustration

Examples of hair follicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some people develop blepharitis due to an overpopulation of Demodex, microscopic mites that live at the base of hair follicles. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 Sep. 2024

Pat Postiglione and a phalanx of other detectives discovered a love triangle, a secret family, connections to a Mexican drug cartel, a hat honoring WWII veterans and one very important hair follicle from a house cat. —Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024

Traction alopecia as a result of tight hairstyles that pull on the hair follicle affects a third of Black women. —Lola Christina Alao, refinery29.com, 3 July 2024

Others feature rotating discs that grip the hair follicle at its root and pull it out, similar to waxing. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tube-shaped sheath surrounding the lower part of a hair shaft

Medical Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment