/
kəˈpɪləri/
n.
(pl. capillaries)
- Anatomy any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules.
-
(also capillary tube)
a tube with an internal diameter of hair-like thinness.
adj.
relating to capillaries or capillarity.
Etymology
C17: from L. capillaris, from capillus ‘hair’, influenced by OFr. capillaire.