villus
Americannoun
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villi
plural
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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
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villi
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
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
The top surface of each villus has many microscopic projections called microvilli.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 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
They are freely supplied with blood-vessels, so that when a piece of a villus is broken off there is likely to be blood in the urine.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various
Having an extra-thick uterine lining, as is the case in humans, helps the female body keep at bay the tentacle-like villi of the invasive human placenta should pregnancy occur.
From Slate ● Sep. 7, 2024
For example, few enzyme-secreting cells are found in the wall of the large intestine, and there are no circular folds or villi.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
These two activities are facilitated by structural adaptations that increase the mucosal surface area by 600-fold, including circular folds, villi, and microvilli.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
There are about 20 to 40 villi per square millimeter, increasing the surface area of the epithelium tremendously.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
Proliferative changes in the synovial membrane are attended with increased vascularity and thickening of the membrane and an enlargement of its villi and fringes.
From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Alexis Thomson
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.
