nodule

noun nod·ule \ ˈnä-(ˌ)jül \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Examples: nodule in a Sentence

Definition of nodule

: a small mass of rounded or irregular shape: such as

a : a small rounded lump of a mineral or mineral aggregate

b : a swelling on a leguminous root that contains symbiotic bacteria

c : a small abnormal knobby bodily protuberance (such as a tumorous growth or a calcification near an arthritic joint)

See nodule defined for English-language learners

See nodule defined for kids

Examples of nodule in a Sentence

The examination revealed a nodule on his lung.
a nodule on the leaf indicated that a worm had laid eggs there

Recent Examples of nodule from the Web

Once a vine quits producing, cut it off at ground level, leaving the nitrogen-rich root nodules in the ground to aid the growth of a following crop, such as brassicas, carrots, beets, or beans.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "Growing Peas Has Never Been Easier Than This," 31 Mar. 2017
These plants collaborate with soil bacteria to absorb nitrogen from the air and deposit it in tiny root nodules—a process called nitrogen fixation.

— beth hanson, Good Housekeeping, "Grow Healthier Crops Using These Natural Nitrogen Sources," 24 Aug. 2015
Many plants are equally dependent on microbes: peas, clover, soy, and beans have nodules on their roots that host bacteria, fixing nitrogen from the air in the plant.

— jason pontin, WIRED, "The 19th-Century Crank Who Tried to Tell Us About the Microbiome," 15 June 2018
The plants build specialized structures on their roots called nodules to house and feed the bacteria, which in turn fix nitrogen for the plants and assure them a steady supply of ammonia.

— diana gitig, Ars Technica, "Plants repeatedly got rid of their ability to obtain their own nitrogen," 27 May 2018
The Pacific’s mineral nodules were discovered by HMS Challenger, a British research vessel that first dredged the abyssal depths in the 1870s.

— The Economist, "Undersea miningRace to the bottom," 8 Mar. 2018
This treatment promotes the formation of root nodules, which contain beneficial bacteria that convert the nitrogen in the air into a form usable by plants.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "Growing Peas Has Never Been Easier Than This," 31 Mar. 2017
Last fall, Clauer was involved in a minor car accident; a precautionary CT scan revealed a nodule on her thyroid.

— alec johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Despite a lung defect and a cancer diagnosis, this Arrowhead senior is trying to make life better for others," 16 May 2018
And on the seafloor, nodules of valuable metals such as manganese and iron have been discovered, and companies are looking for ways to recover them.

— the editors, Scientific American, "Without a Treaty to Share the Arctic, Greedy Countries Will Destroy It," 1 Dec. 2017

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