capillary

== English == === Etymology === From Latin capillāris (“pertaining to the hair”), from capillus (“the hair, properly of the head”), from caput (“head”). === Pronunciation === (Canada) IPA(key): /kəˈpɪl.ə.ɹi/, /ˈkæpɪˌlɛɹi/ (Received Pronunciation, General Australian) IPA(key): /kəˈpɪl.ə.ɹi/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkæpəˌlɛri/, /ˈkæpɪˌlɛɹi/ (Philippines) IPA(key): /käˈpɪʎä.ɹi/, /käˈpɪʎä.ɾi/ Hyphenation: cap‧il‧lar‧y Rhymes: -ɪləɹi === Adjective === capillary (comparative more capillary, superlative most capillary) Resembling or pertaining to hair, especially in slenderness or fineness. Of or pertaining to a narrow tube. Of, relating to, or caused by surface tension. Of or relating to capillaries in the body or to capillary action. ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === capillary (plural capillaries) (anatomy) Any of the small blood vessels (from 5 to 10 micrometres/micrometers (μm) in diameter) that connect arteries to veins (They are the smallest blood vessels in the body: they convey blood between the arterioles and venules). (physics, chemistry) A tube or channel having a very small internal diameter, through which liquid can rise or be drawn by capillary action. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === artery circulatory system vein === Further reading === “capillary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “capillary”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.