capillary Definition
cap·il·lary (kap′ə ler′ē; Brit kə pil′ə ri)
adjective
- of or like a hair, esp. in being very slender
- having a very small bore
- in or of capillaries
Etymology: L capillaris < capillus, hair
noun pl. -·lar′·ies
- a tube with a very small bore
- any of the tiny blood vessels normally connecting the smallest arteries (arterioles) with the smallest veins (venules)
capillary Synonyms
capillary Usage Examples
Converse of object
- dilate: These are not broken capillaries although everyone terms them as such, but rather permanently dilated capillaries.
- strengthen: C also helps strengthen capillaries, prevent bruising and keeps gums strong and healthy.
- surround: Tumors usually do not exceed 1 - 2 mm in diameter in order to be adequately supplied by surrounding capillaries.
- build: Bioflavonoids work together with vitamin C to build strong capillaries and serve as antioxidants and as anti-inflammatory agents.
- call: The blood is then spread through tiny vessels called capillaries which form a network.
Adjective modifier
- glomerular: Explain that the blood vessel leaving a glomerulus is narrower than the one entering it and so pressure in the glomerular capillaries is high.
- pulmonary: This process is normally complete by the time the blood has passed about one third of the way along the pulmonary capillary.
- retinal: However, the view of the choroidal vessels and retinal capillaries is soon obscured by the rapid leakage of fluorescein from the choroidal vasculature.
- broken: Broken capillaries, especially on the face are a cosmetic problem.
- damaged: Phytonadione may help fade the appearance of dark circles by supporting healthy the damaged capillaries.
- tiny: Cancer cells that have found their way into the blood stream can get stuck in the tiny capillaries of the lungs.
Modifies a noun
- matting: A piece of capillary matting is then cut to fit the lid.
- electrophoresis: The new service which uses the ABI PRISM 3100, a fluorescence-based DNA analysis system incorporating capillary electrophoresis with 16 capillaries operating in parallel.
- rheometer: Capillary rheometers are highly valuable for simulating high shear rate conditions.
- dynamolysis: It is thus difficult to discern what cocktail of tin complexes actually entered the paper during capillary dynamolysis.
- rheometry: To obtain high shear rate data extrusion based methods are most appropriate, in particular capillary extrusion rheometry.
- permeability: Exudate - the fluid plasma which leaks out of blood vessels due to an increase in capillary permeability.
Noun used with modifier
- blood: In normal circumstances, fluid moves through the blood capillary wall into the interstitial tissues ( Stanton, 2000 ).
- glass: Mercury thermometer A glass bulb filled with mercury is connected to a narrow evacuated glass capillary tube.
- skin: The effect of high and low body temperatures on the diameter of skin capillaries and the production of sweat.
Browse dictionary entries near capillary
- ‹ capillarity
- ‹ capillaceous
- ‹ capias
- ‹ caph
- ‹ capful
- ‹ capex
- ‹ Capetian
- ‹ Capet
- ‹ capeskin
- ‹ Capernaum

