n.1 a small rounded protuberance esp. on a bone.
2 a small rounded swelling on the body or in an organ, esp. a nodular lesion characteristic of tuberculosis in the lungs etc.
3 a small tuber; a wartlike growth.
Phrases and idioms:
tubercle bacillus a bacterium causing tuberculosis.
Derivatives:
tuberculate adj. tuberculous adj.
Etymology: L tuberculum, dimin. of tuber: see TUBER