[ 'kapsju:l , -sjʊl ]
■ noun
1》 a small case or container, especially a round or cylindrical one.
↘a small soluble case of gelatin containing a dose of medicine, swallowed whole.
2》 Anatomy a sheath or membrane that encloses an organ or other structure, such as a kidney.
3》 Botany a dry fruit that releases its seeds by bursting open when ripe.
↘the spore-producing structure of mosses and liverworts.
4》 the foil or plastic covering the cork of a wine bottle.
Derivatives
capsular adjective
capsulate adjective
Origin
ME: via Fr. from L. capsula , dimin. of capsa (see case 2 ).