corpuscle
Biology. an unattached cell, especially of a kind that floats freely, as a blood or lymph cell.
Anatomy. a small mass or body forming a more or less distinct part, as the sensory receptors at nerve terminals.
Physical Chemistry. a minute or elementary particle of matter, as an electron, proton, or atom.
any minute particle.
Origin of corpuscle
1- Also cor·pus·cule [kawr-puhs-kyool]. /kɔrˈpʌs kyul/.
Other words from corpuscle
- cor·pus·cu·lar [kawr-puhs-kyuh-ler], /kɔrˈpʌs kyə lər/, cor·pus·cu·lat·ed [kawr-puhs-kyuh-ley-tid], /kɔrˈpʌs kyəˌleɪ tɪd/, cor·pus·cu·lous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for corpuscle
/ (ˈkɔːpʌsəl) /
any cell or similar minute body that is suspended in a fluid, esp any of the red blood corpuscles (erythrocytes) or white blood corpuscles (see leucocytes): See also erythrocyte, leucocyte
anatomy the encapsulated ending of a sensory nerve
physics a discrete particle such as an electron, photon, ion, or atom
Also called: corpuscule (kɔːˈpʌskjuːl) any minute particle
Origin of corpuscle
1Derived forms of corpuscle
- corpuscular (kɔːˈpʌskjʊlə), adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for corpuscle
[ kôr′pə-səl ]
Any of various cellular or small multicellular structures in the body, especially a red or white blood cell.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse