Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹capsule

noun cap·sule \ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül also -ˌsyül\

: a very small container that is filled with medicine and swallowed whole

: a small glass or plastic container that has something (such as a liquid) inside of it

: a small part of a spacecraft that is separate from the rest of the spacecraft and that is where people live and work

Full Definition of CAPSULE

a : a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (as a knee joint or kidney)

b : either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum

: a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: as

a : a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels

b : the spore case of a moss

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins); also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

: an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism

: an extremely brief condensation : outline, survey

a : a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment

b : a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)

See capsule defined for English-language learners

See capsule defined for kids

Origin of CAPSULE

French, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa box — more at case

First Known Use: circa 1693

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms: cap, pill, lozenge, tablet

Other Pharmacology Terms

anodyne, cathartic, emetic, emollient, liniment, paregoric, poultice, purgative, soporific, spectrum

²capsule

verb

cap·suledcap·sul·ing

Definition of CAPSULE

transitive verb

: to equip with or enclose in a capsule

: to condense into or devise in a compact form

First Known Use of CAPSULE

1859

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms: compress, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope

Antonyms: decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch

³capsule

adjective

: very short

Full Definition of CAPSULE

: extremely brief

: small and very compact

See capsule defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CAPSULE

1938

Related to CAPSULE

Synonyms: aphoristic, apothegmatic, brief, concise, compact, compendious, crisp, curt, elliptical (or elliptic), epigrammatic, laconic, monosyllabic, pithy, sententious, succinct, summary, telegraphic, terse, thumbnail

Antonyms: circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

CAPSULE Defined for Kids

capsule

noun cap·sule \ˈkap-səl\

Definition of CAPSULE for Kids

: a case enclosing the seeds or spores of a plant

: a small case of material that contains medicine to be swallowed

: a closed compartment for travel in space

Medical Dictionary

capsule

noun cap·sule \ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül\

Medical Definition of CAPSULE

a : a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ <the capsule of the kidney> b : either of two layers or laminae of white matter in the cerebrum: (1) : a layer that consists largely of fibers passing to and from the cerebral cortex and that lies internal to the lentiform nucleus—called also internal capsule (2) : one that lies between the lentiform nucleus and the claustrum—called also external capsule

: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins); also : a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents

: a viscous or gelatinous often polysaccharide envelope surrounding certain microscopic organisms (as the pneumococcus)