1
a
: a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (such as a knee joint or kidney)
b
: either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum
2
: a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: such as
a
: a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels
b
: the spore case of a moss
3
: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (such as a drug or vitamins)
also
: a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents
4
: an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism
6
a
: a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment
b
: a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)
capsuled; capsuling
1
: to equip with or enclose in a capsule
2
: to condense into or devise in a compact form
capsuled the news
1
: extremely brief
a capsule biography
2
: small and very compact
a capsule submarine
Synonyms
Examples of capsule in a Sentence
Noun
took an antibiotic capsule three times a day for a week
a capsule containing all sorts of items from our era that is to be opened 100 years from now
Verb
newscasts that capsule complex, important stories into one-minute bits for easy digestion by viewers
Adjective
capsule reviews of the latest offerings at the multiplex
Recent Examples on the Web
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Limited quantities of the Kith X New Balance Madison Square Garden capsule will be available beginning November 4 at 11 a.m. EST at select Kith shops and on kith.com.
—Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
According to Vogue, the dress was part of a capsule collection between Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi and the Italian fashion house, Pucci.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for capsule 
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Noun
The capsule also includes cashmere blends for softness.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Limited quantities of the Kith X New Balance Madison Square Garden capsule will be available beginning November 4 at 11 a.m. EST at select Kith shops and on kith.com.
—Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Six years after making his debut for Dior with a show featuring a 33-foot tall sculpture by Kaws, Kim Jones is reuniting with the U.S. artist for a capsule collection of menswear.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
According to Vogue, the dress was part of a capsule collection between Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi and the Italian fashion house, Pucci.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for capsule
Dictionary Entries Near capsule
Cite this Entry
“Capsule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capsule. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capsule
1 of 2 noun
cap·sule
ˈkap-səl 
-(ˌ)sül
1
: a surrounding cover of a bodily part (as a knee joint)
2
: a case bearing spores or seeds
3
: a shell usually of gelatin that is used for packaging something (as a drug)
also
: such a shell together with its contents
4
: an envelope of carbohydrate around a microbe and especially a bacterium
5
: a small compartment with nearly normal atmospheric pressure for a pilot or astronaut
especially
: spacecraft
capsule
2 of 2 adjective
: very brief
capsule movie reviews
Medical Definition
capsule
noun
cap·sule
ˈkap-səl, -(ˌ)sül
1
a
: a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ
the capsule of the kidney
b
: either of two layers or laminae of white matter in the cerebrum:
(1)
: a layer that consists largely of fibers passing to and from the cerebral cortex and that lies internal to the lentiform nucleus
called also internal capsule
(2)
: one that lies between the lentiform nucleus and the claustrum
called also external capsule
2
: a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins)
also
: a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents
3
: a viscous or gelatinous often polysaccharide envelope surrounding certain microscopic organisms (as the pneumococcus)
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