ˈkæpsju:l n. 1 a
small soluble case of gelatine enclosing a
dose of
medicine and swallowed
with it. 2 a detachable
compartment of a
spacecraft or nose-cone of a rocket. 3 an enclosing
membrane in
the body. 4 a a
dry fruit that releases
its seeds
when ripe. b the spore-producing
part of mosses and liverworts. 5 Biol. an enveloping
layer surrounding
certain bacteria. 6 (attrib.)
concise;
highly condensed (a capsule
history of jazz). øøcapsular adj. capsulate adj. [F f. L capsula f. capsa CASE(2)]