View synonyms for follicle

follicle

[ fol-i-kuhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Anatomy.
1. a small cavity, sac, or gland.
2. one of the small ovarian sacs containing an immature ovum; Graafian follicle.
Botany. a dry seed vessel, or pod, consisting of a single carpel, splitting at maturity only along the front part of the suture.

follicle

/ fɒˈlɪkjʊˌleɪt; ˈfɒlɪkəl; fɒˈlɪkjʊlə /

any small sac or cavity in the body having an excretory, secretory, or protective function
a hair follicle
botany a dry fruit, formed from a single carpel, that splits along one side only to release its seeds: occurs in larkspur and columbine

follicle

/ fŏl′ĭ-kəl /

A small, protective sac, gland, or cluster of cells in the body. In mammals, unfertilized eggs develop in follicles located in the ovaries. Hair grows from follicles in the skin.
A dry, dehiscent fruit that develops from a single carpel, has a single chamber, and splits open along only one seam to release its seeds. The pod of the milkweed and the fruit of the magnolia are follicles.

First recorded in 1640–50, follicle is from the Latin word folliculus small bag, shell, pod. See follis, -cle ¹

C17: from Latin folliculus small bag, from follis pair of bellows, leather money-bag

Mitt Romney, who has reverted to the not-a-follicle-out-of-place hairstyle, never really got up the gumption to hit Newt.

First up is John Edwards, who will show Romney how to achieve that dry-hair look while keeping every follicle in place.

High levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone knocks us out of contention, unless we go to a specialist clinic.

I propose dealing separately with the several constituents of the egg-follicle.

Foulis regards the zona pellucida as a product of the ovum and not of the follicle.

The membrane would seem indeed to be formed in some instances even before the ovum has a definite investment of follicle cells.

There can, it appears to me, be no question that both varieties of cell are derived from the primitive uniform follicle cells.

The cells are flat, but extended so as to appear of an unexpected size in views of the surface of the follicle.

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