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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Mussels, for instance, secrete adhesive proteins to attach themselves to wet surfaces, while frogs have uniquely structured toe pads that create capillary and hydrodynamic forces for adhesion. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 July 2022 Spaghetti aglio e olio, showing capillary adhesion between the noodles. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Mar. 2022 The scientist verifies ambergris using a technique known as capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and then Ambergris Connect issues authenticity reports to buyers.Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Sep. 2021 Various studies have shown that capillary development appears to peak at between 60 and 75 percent of 5K pace. Jeff Gaudette, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2019 After nearly two decades of research into the skin’s lymphatic capillary network, Clé de Peau Beauté relaunched their Synactif skincare collection. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2021 From there, the tide flows east in the grooves between cobblestones, carried first by capillary action, then forced from behind by the surge. Justin Beal, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2021 The strips are curled into cylinders and welded at the seam, then stretched and cut into fine capillary tubes, which machines glue to plastic hubs.New York Times, 5 Mar. 2021 White’s tree frogs (Litoria caerulea) secrete mucus from their toe pads to hold on to steep surfaces through capillary forces, similar to the way a wet piece of tissue sticks to a window. Becky Summers, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2013
Noun
The nanoparticles can be selectively induced (and sensed) by electrodes positioned at the entrance of each capillary. Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 20 May 2022 Sitting on an artery instead of a capillary, the infrared sensors capture the most accurate biometric data. Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 7 Oct. 2021 This is because the infrared light penetrates deeper than the green light other devices use while reading vitals such as heart rate and temperature from your finger artery instead of a wrist capillary. Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 7 Oct. 2021 But the red ink film floats up, thanks to a phenomenon called capillary-induced peeling, in which the water penetrates between the less-sticky ink and the rock. Tess Joosse, Science | AAAS, 24 Mar. 2021 Researchers demonstrated that vitamin D can reduce damage to capillaries that connect the alveoli to larger blood vessels that may prevent ARDS.USA Today, 9 June 2020 This is a rare but severe form of the disease in which immune cells release chemicals called inflammatory cytokines that end up damaging the circulatory system, leading to blood plasma leaking out of capillaries. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 1 May 2020 Kidneys filter blood through thousands of tiny capillaries, which are highly susceptible to clots.NBC News, 18 Apr. 2020 There’s also some pink dye to add life-like color, and the embalmer might gently massage the hands and feet to help coerce the fluid into capillaries in the fingers and toes. Victor Llorente, Popular Mechanics, 24 Apr. 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
French or Latin; French capillaire, from Latin capillaris, from capillus hair