capillaries - Master This Word
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capillaries Word Meanings
- a small blood vessel connecting arteries and veins
- relating to the action of capillarity
- small and thin like a hair
capillaries Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
capillaries Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kəˈpɪl.ər.i/
US
/kəˈpɪl.ɛr.i/
capillaries Word Etymology
Root decomposition: 'capill-' (hair) + suffix '-ary' (related to). Historical origin: Latin 'capillaris' meaning 'hair-like' → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a tiny hair holding a droplet of water, illustrating how capillaries draw in fluids.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Capillary is a noun and an adjective. In biology, it refers to the tiny blood vessels that connect arteries and veins, forming a network that exchanges oxygen, nutrients, and waste with nearby tissues. In physics and everyday science, the term capillary describes capillarity, the tendency of a liquid to rise or fall in a narrow tube due to cohesive and adhesive forces. The adjective sense describes something hair-thin, slender, or filament-like, as in capillary threads or capillary action in paper and soil. Learners should distinguish the vascular sense from the descriptive one and remember its two main pronunciations: /ˈkæpəˌlɛri/ (noun) and /ˈkæpɪˌlɛri/ (adj).
Usage Reminders
- Remember the two noun senses, differentiate from hair-thin adjectives, practice capillary action terms, use in biology and physics, watch pronunciation shifts, and review common collocations.
Common Misconceptions
- Capillary is only about hair-thin things, not blood vessels.
- Capillary action works the same in all liquids and conditions.
- Capillary tubes are only used in labs, not nature.
- The word capillary and capillarity mean the same thing in every context.
- Capillary means large vessels or arteries are capillaries.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker that capillary carries two senses (vascular vs. hair-thin) and that learners often confuse the two; emphasize contexts like biology vs. physics.
Learning Tips
- Say the word aloud with both noun pronunciations.
- Group capillary with related terms: capillary action, capillary tube.
- Compare bio contexts to physics contexts in notes.
- Practice with 1 biology sentence and 1 physics sentence.
- Use flashcards for the two senses and their examples.
- Check pronunciation in both US and UK dictionaries.
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