vesicle

[ ves-i-kuh l ]
/ ˈvɛs ɪ kəl /

noun

a small sac or cyst.
Biology. a small bladderlike cavity, especially one filled with fluid.
Pathology. a circumscribed elevation of the epidermis containing serous fluid; blister.
Geology. a small, usually spherical cavity in a rock or mineral, formed by expansion of a gas or vapor before the enclosing body solidified.

Origin of vesicle

First recorded in 1570–80, vesicle is from the Latin word vēsīcula little bladder. See vesica, -ule

Example sentences from the Web for vesicle

British Dictionary definitions for vesicle

vesicle
/ (ˈvɛsɪkəl) /

noun

pathol
  1. any small sac or cavity, esp one containing serous fluid
  2. a blister
geology a rounded cavity within a rock formed during solidification by expansion of the gases present in the magma
botany a small bladder-like cavity occurring in certain seaweeds and aquatic plants
any small cavity or cell

Derived forms of vesicle

vesicular (vɛˈsɪkjʊlə), adjective vesicularly, adverb

Word Origin for vesicle

C16: from Latin vēsīcula, diminutive of vesica

Medical definitions for vesicle

vesicle
[ vĕsĭ-kəl ]

n.

A small structure resembling a bladder.
A small circumscribed elevation of the skin containing serum.
A small sac or cyst containing liquid or gas.

Scientific definitions for vesicle

vesicle
[ vĕsĭ-kəl ]

A small fluid-filled sac in the body.
A membrane-bound sac in eukaryotic cells that stores or transports the products of metabolism in the cell and is sometimes the site for the breaking down of metabolic wastes. Vesicles bulge out and break off from the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Vesicles get their energy for mobility from ATP. Lysosomes and peroxisomes are vesicles.
A small cavity formed in volcanic rock by entrapment of a gas bubble during solidification.

Other words from vesicle

vesicular adjective (vĕ-sĭkyə-lər, və-)