nodule

noun

nod·​ule ˈnä-(ˌ)jül 

: 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)

Synonyms

• bump
• knot
• lump
• node
• swelling

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 on the Web

More than 1 billion metric tons of those nodules are estimated to be in U.S. waters and filled with manganese, nickel, copper and other critical minerals, according to the administration, which said extracting them could boost U.S. GDP by $300 billion over 10 years and create 100,000 jobs. —Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025

Many of the nodules are in the middle of the Pacific ocean, beyond the legal territory of individual countries. —Julia Simon, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025

The leftover slurry of water, sediment and crushed nodules is then dumped back into the middle of the water column, creating plumes. —Alexus Cazares-Nuesser, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025

Conservation groups, which had already opposed the extraction of polymetallic nodules, quickly latched onto Sweetman’s work as justification for a moratorium on mining projects. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin nodulus, diminutive of nodus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nodule

• module

Kids Definition

nodule

noun

nod·​ule ˈnäj-(ˌ)ü(ə)l 

1

: a small rounded mass

manganese nodules on the ocean floor

2

: a swelling on the root of a plant of the legume family that contains nitrogen-fixing bacteria

nodular

ˈnäj-ə-lər

adjective

Medical Definition

nodule

noun

nod·​ule ˈnäj-(ˌ)ü(ə)l 

: a small mass of rounded or irregular shape: as

a

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

b

: the nodulus of the cerebellum