ENGLISH
REFERENCE

capsule

n. · v.
US //ˈkæpsəɫ// UK //kˈæpsjuːl// cap·sule
  1. 1 medicine (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a small, easy-to-swallow container that holds a dose of medicine.

    a small, soluble container, usually made of gelatin, enclosing a dose of an oral medication.

    Example

    The doctor told her to take one capsule with water every morning.

    Example

    The pharmacist explained that the time-release capsule would gradually dispense the medication into the bloodstream over twelve hours.
  2. 2 spacecraft (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the part of a rocket where people live and work during a flight.

    a small, pressurized compartment of a spacecraft designed to support a crew and return to Earth.

    Example

    The astronauts climbed into the capsule and prepared for the long journey.

    Example

    After re-entering the atmosphere, the space capsule deployed three massive parachutes to slow its descent before splashing down in the ocean.
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  1. 3 botany (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the part of a plant that holds and protects its seeds.

    a dry fruit that opens when ripe to release seeds, typical of plants like poppies or lilies.

    Example

    The poppy capsule dried out and eventually scattered its seeds in the wind.

    Example

    The botanist examined the dehiscent capsule under a microscope to determine how the seeds were dispersed during the dry season.
  2. 4 anatomy (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a thin layer of tissue that covers and protects an organ in the body.

    a tough, fibrous or membranous envelope surrounding an organ, such as the kidney or a joint.

    Example

    The surgeon was careful not to damage the capsule surrounding the kidney.

    Example

    Inflammation of the joint capsule can lead to significant pain and restricted movement in elderly patients.
  3. 5 brief summary (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    a very short and clear description of something.

    a highly condensed or brief summary of a larger work or idea; often used as an adjective.

    Example

    The magazine provided a capsule review of the new movie.

    Example

    The historian provided a capsule history of the revolution, managing to condense decades of conflict into a single, insightful paragraph.
  4. 6 capsule hotel room (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a very small, tube-shaped room for one person in a special type of hotel.

    a modular, fiberglass or plastic unit used as a guest room in a capsule hotel.

    Example

    I stayed in a capsule for one night because it was cheaper than a regular hotel.

    Example

    While efficient for solo travelers, the capsule offers little more than a bed and a small television within its confined walls.
  5. 7 to summarize (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to give a short, clear summary of a lot of information.

    to summarize or condense information into a brief, manageable form.

    Example

    It is difficult to capsule such a long story into just two minutes.

    Example

    The executive asked the consultant to capsule the findings of the three-hundred-page report for the board of directors.
Origin

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

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