follicle
n. countablen. a small, tiny pocket or sac in the body that holds something. In humans, it is the tiny hole in your skin where a hair grows.
n. a small sac or cavity in the body, typically containing a developing cell or structure. In dermatology, it refers to the tiny opening in the skin through which a hair shaft grows.
The doctor checked the hair follicle for signs of infection.
Each hair follicle is a complex structure that contains the cells responsible for hair growth and pigment production.
The endocrinologist explained that the thyroid follicle is lined with cells that produce and store the hormones necessary for regulating the body's metabolic rate.
Borrowed from Latin folliculus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 25, 2026