villus
Americannoun
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Anatomy, Zoology. one of the minute, wormlike processes on certain membranes, especially on the mucous membrane of the small intestine, where they serve in absorbing nutriment.
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Botany. one of the long, soft, straight hairs covering the fruit, flowers, and other parts of certain plants.
noun
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zoology anatomy any of the numerous finger-like projections of the mucous membrane lining the small intestine of many vertebrates
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any similar membranous process, such as any of those in the mammalian placenta
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botany any of various hairlike outgrowths, as from the stem of a moss
Etymology
Origin of villus
1695–1705; < Latin: shaggy hair, thick nap
Vocabulary lists containing villus
Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - Middle School
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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.
This restriction stems from the fact that the analysis currently necessitates either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, both procedures associated with discomfort and a slight risk of miscarriage.
From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2024
In the past, women had to undergo chorionic villus sampling, in which cells are taken from the placenta, or amniocentesis, which involves removing fluid from the womb, to test for the chromosomal abnormality.
From Washington Post • Mar. 5, 2018
An arachnoid villus is shown emerging into the dural sinus to allow CSF to filter back into the blood for drainage.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
The next step is diagnostic testing on cells from the fetus obtained through amniocentesis, which is like a needle biopsy through the belly, or chorionic villus sampling, which snips a bit of the placenta.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2012
He treats successively of the anatomical characters and properties of fat, of membrane in general, of flesh, of nerve, of villus or fibre, of ligament, of sinew or tendon, and of muscle in general.
From The Popes and Science The History of the Papal Relations to Science During the Middle Ages and Down to Our Own Time by Walsh, James J.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
