Capillary: GRE Vocabulary Word Explained
Learn about ‘capillary’, a key GRE vocabulary word. Discover its meanings as a noun and adjective, its Latin origins, and how it’s used in biology, physics, and everyday language. Improve your GRE prep with this comprehensive word study.
Did you know that if you were to lay out all the capillaries in an adult human body end to end, they would stretch for about sixty thousand miles?
That’s enough to circle the Earth two and a half times! This fascinating fact introduces us to our GRE vocabulary word of the day: capillary.
Word type: Capillary is primarily used as a noun, but it can also function as an adjective.
Meaning: As a noun, a capillary refers to any of the tiny blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules, forming a network throughout the body’s tissues.
These vessels are so small that red blood cells can only pass through them in single file. In a broader sense, capillary can refer to any very fine, thin tube or channel, especially one that draws liquid upward.
As an adjective, capillary describes something relating to or resembling a hair, very slender, or involving capillarity – the phenomenon where liquid in a narrow space rises or falls due to surface tension.
Word history: The word capillary comes from the Latin word capillaris, meaning of hair or hairlike. This, in turn, derives from capillus, meaning hair.
The term was first used in English in the mid-seventeenth century.
Antonyms: While there aren’t direct antonyms for capillary, some words that represent opposite concepts include: large, wide, or broad when referring to tubes or channels.
Synonyms: Some synonyms for capillary include: microscopic vessel, microvessel, and when used more broadly, hair-thin tube or channel.
Examples use in sentences: In biology: The capillaries in the alveoli of the lungs allow for efficient gas exchange between the bloodstream and the air we breathe.
In physics: Capillary action causes water to rise up the narrow tubes in plant stems, defying gravity.
In everyday use: The old fountain pen relied on capillary action to draw ink from the reservoir to the nib.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing capillaries with other blood vessels. Remember, capillaries are the smallest blood vessels, connecting arterioles and venules.
They’re not the same as veins or arteries, which are much larger. Another error is using capillary only in its biological context.
While it’s commonly associated with blood vessels, don’t forget its broader application to any very fine tube or channel, especially in scientific contexts.
Understanding the word capillary and its various applications can significantly enhance your vocabulary for the GRE.
It’s a word that bridges biology, physics, and general scientific discourse, making it a valuable addition to your lexicon.
Remember its root connection to hair, its primary meaning as tiny blood vessels, and its broader application to any hair-thin tube or channel.
With this knowledge, you’re now better equipped to recognize and use capillary correctly in various contexts, giving you an edge in your GRE preparation.
