capsule

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a pill in the form of a small rounded gelatinous container with medicine inside

   The doctor asked me if my children could swallow capsules or if they needed liquid medicine.

2. 2
   noun

   a small container

   The time capsule contains many pictures of us and our community.

3. 3
   noun

   a pilot's seat in an airplane that can be forcibly ejected in the case of an emergency

   The airplane needs a new capsule.

4. 4
   noun

   a spacecraft designed to transport people and support human life in outer space

   While scientists have promising statistics, commercial capsules probably won't be available for another 20 years.

5. 5
   noun

   a structure that encloses a body part

   Bowman's capsule is part of the nephron.

6. 6
   noun

   a shortened version of a written work

   Students are expected to read the capsule of Alice in Wonderland tonight.

7. 7
   noun

   a dry dehiscent seed vessel or the spore-containing structure

   These moss capsules have spread over the whole garden.

8. 8
   verb

   to put in a short or concise form

   Please capsule your essay response to no more than one paragraph.

Etymology

Borrowed from French capsule, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa (“box”).