vesicle

noun
ves·​i·​cle | \ ˈve-si-kəl How to pronounce vesicle (audio) \

Definition of vesicle

1a : a membranous and usually fluid-filled pouch (such as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in a plant or animal
b : a small abnormal elevation of the outer layer of skin enclosing a watery liquid : blister
c : a pocket of embryonic tissue that is the beginning of an organ
2 : a small cavity in a mineral or rock

Examples of vesicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the vesicles come from the host ants, the contents could be an immune response of some kind. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Zombifying fungus bypasses the brain to make ants its puppets, study finds," 17 July 2019 It had been observed that vesicles containing neurotransmitters routinely hover in clusters near the presynaptic membrane until they are needed. Quanta Magazine, "‘Lava-Lamp’ Proteins May Help Cells Cheat Death," 26 Nov. 2018 The vesicles are popular in cocktails, as condiments, garnishes, and as an accent to fish. Nan Sterman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Branching out with new crops," 31 May 2018 But the real surprise comes in the tasting: The tart vesicles pop on the tongue, again like caviar, exploding flavor that gourmets have described as intense lemon and lime with herbaceous notes. Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Finger limes the ‘caviar’ of citrus for your garden," 9 Apr. 2018 However, if your child is not vaccinated yet, varicella will appear as a red bump that will progress over the course of few hours into a vesicle that will then dry and form a crust. Gabriela Moraru, M.d., miamiherald, "My child has a rash! What should I do? | Miami Herald," 1 May 2018 Unlike the teardrop sacs in regular citrus, the finger lime’s greenish-white or pinkish vesicles are round and firm and do indeed resemble caviar. Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Finger limes the ‘caviar’ of citrus for your garden," 9 Apr. 2018 But that’s just the preview: When the fruit is cut in half, the pearlescent juice vesicles ooze out like mini eruptions. Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Finger limes the ‘caviar’ of citrus for your garden," 9 Apr. 2018 So recently, an international group of scientists from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, and other institutions began to consider vesicles. Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, "The Mysterious Interior World of Exercise," 24 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vesicle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of vesicle

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for vesicle

Middle French vesicule, from Latin vesicula small bladder, blister, from diminutive of vesica

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More Definitions for vesicle

vesicle

noun
ves·​i·​cle | \ ˈves-i-kəl How to pronounce vesicle (audio) \

Medical Definition of vesicle

1a : a membranous and usually fluid-filled pouch (as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in a plant or animal
2 : a small abnormal elevation of the outer layer of skin enclosing a watery liquid : blister
3 : a pocket of embryonic tissue that is the beginning of an organ — see brain vesicle, optic vesicle, otic vesicle

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