villus
Americannoun
plural
villi-
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
plural
villiEtymology
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
The same would be true of women who have prenatal testing of fetuses with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, known as C.V.S.
From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2022
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
In addition to muscle and connective tissue to support its structure, each villus contains a capillary bed composed of one arteriole and one venule, as well as a lymphatic capillary called a lacteal.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
B represents the membranous surface covering the villus; C, the blood-vessels within the villus.
From The Story of the Living Machine A Review of the Conclusions of Modern Biology in Regard to the Mechanism Which Controls the Phenomena of Living Activity by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)
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.
