cap·il·lary
ˈka-pə-ˌler-ē 
-ˌle-rē,
British usually kə-ˈpi-lə-rē
1
a
: resembling a hair especially in slender elongated form
capillary leaves
b
: having a very small bore
a capillary tube
2
: involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension
capillary water in the soil
3
: of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
plural capillaries
1
: a minute thin-walled vessel of the body
especially
: any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body
2
: a tube (as of glass) having a very small bore
Examples of capillary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
Activating receptors involved in collagen production, blood vessel and capillary growth and the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2024
Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 May 2024
Or the fat-laden VLDL is transported throughout the system and ends up in capillaries where enzymes detach fat from VLDL leaving behind the cholesterol.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for capillary 
Adjective
Retinal imaging reveals thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer and inner retinal layer, as well as decreased capillary density and abnormal vasodilatory response, all linked to the progressive deterioration of the brain.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
Activating receptors involved in collagen production, blood vessel and capillary growth and the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2024
Noun
When less skin is stripped from muscle, more capillaries are spared, which enhances blood flow to speed recovery.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 May 2024
Or the fat-laden VLDL is transported throughout the system and ends up in capillaries where enzymes detach fat from VLDL leaving behind the cholesterol.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for capillary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capillary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near capillary
Cite this Entry
“Capillary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capillary. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capillary
1 of 2 adjective
cap·il·lary
ˈkap-ə-ˌler-ē
1
: having a long slender form and a very small inner diameter
a capillary tube
2
: of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
capillary
2 of 2 noun
plural capillaries
: a capillary tube
especially
: any of the tiny blood vessels connecting the small arteries and veins
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