# capsule

/ˈkæpsəɫ/ (US) · /kˈæpsjuːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/capsule
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. medicine

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The doctor told her to take one capsule with water every morning.
- The pharmacist explained that the time-release capsule would gradually dispense the medication into the bloodstream over twelve hours.

### 2. spacecraft

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The astronauts climbed into the capsule and prepared for the long journey.
- After re-entering the atmosphere, the space capsule deployed three massive parachutes to slow its descent before splashing down in the ocean.

### 3. botany

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The poppy capsule dried out and eventually scattered its seeds in the wind.
- The botanist examined the dehiscent capsule under a microscope to determine how the seeds were dispersed during the dry season.

### 4. anatomy

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The surgeon was careful not to damage the capsule surrounding the kidney.
- Inflammation of the joint capsule can lead to significant pain and restricted movement in elderly patients.

### 5. brief summary

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a very short and clear description of something.

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

- The magazine provided a capsule review of the new movie.
- The historian provided a capsule history of the revolution, managing to condense decades of conflict into a single, insightful paragraph.

### 6. capsule hotel room

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- I stayed in a capsule for one night because it was cheaper than a regular hotel.
- While efficient for solo travelers, the capsule offers little more than a bed and a small television within its confined walls.

### 7. to summarize

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- It is difficult to capsule such a long story into just two minutes.
- The executive asked the consultant to capsule the findings of the three-hundred-page report for the board of directors.

## Examples

- I find it easier to swallow a capsule than a large tablet.
- The doctor prescribed the antibiotic in capsule form to ensure the medicine reached the stomach before dissolving.
- After months of preparation, the astronauts finally climbed into the small capsule that would serve as their only home during the long journey back to Earth's atmosphere.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.