Dictionary

1capillary

adjective cap·il·lary \ˈka-pə-ˌler-ē, -ˌle-rē, British usually kə-ˈpi-lə-rē\

Definition of CAPILLARY

1
a :  resembling a hair especially in slender elongated form <capillary leaves>
b :  having a very small bore <a capillary tube>
2
:  involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension <capillary water in the soil>
3
:  of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
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Origin of CAPILLARY

French or Latin; French capillaire, from Latin capillaris, from capillus hair
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with CAPILLARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry

2capillary

noun

: one of the many very small tubes that carry blood within the body : the smallest kind of blood vessel

plural capillar·ies

Full Definition of CAPILLARY

1
:  a minute thin-walled vessel of the body; especially :  any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body
2
:  a tube (as of glass) having a very small bore

First Known Use of CAPILLARY

1667

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral
CAPILLARY Defined for Kids

1capillary

adjective cap·il·lary \ˈka-pə-ˌler-ē\

Definition of CAPILLARY for Kids

1
:  having a long slender form and a small inner diameter <a capillary tube>
2
:  of or relating to capillary action or a capillary

2capillary

noun
plural cap·il·lar·ies

Definition of CAPILLARY for Kids

:  one of the slender hairlike tubes that are the smallest blood vessels and connect arteries with veins
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