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tubule

American  
[too-byool, tyoo-] / ˈtu byul, ˈtyu- /

noun

  1. a small tube; a minute tubular structure.

  2. convoluted tubule.


tubule British  
/ ˈtjuːbjuːl /

noun

  1. any small tubular structure, esp one in an animal, as in the kidney, testis, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of tubule

1670–80; < Latin tubulus, equivalent to tub ( us ) pipe + -ulus -ule

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It also notes that garlic extract has been explored in areas such as denture stomatitis, dentinal tubule disinfection, and intracanal medication.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

The researchers were able to efficiently differentiate the hiPSCs into the kidney proximal tubule, the type of nephron in the kidney that is impaired in infantile cystinosis, as well as in other kidney diseases.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2023

The findings are applicable to other kidney diseases where the renal proximal tubule is damaged, including acute kidney injury that can lead to chronic kidney disease and renal failure, and can be fatal.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2023

Emotional stress increases the production of sweat from the apocrine glands, or more precisely: the sweat already present in the tubule is squeezed out.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

A=cellular contents; B=internal chitinous layer; C=external chitinous layer; D=pneumatic coat; E=gemmule-spicule; F=external membrane; G=foraminal tubule.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson