🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

villosité

Pronunciation / Transliteration: vil-o-zi-te

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Villus/ˈvɪl.əs/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #45200 frequency
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🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"La villosité intestinale absorbe les nutriments."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    One of the small, finger-like projections of the mucous membrane of the small intestine that serve to increase the surface area for absorption.

    "Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the thousands of tiny villus structures lining the small intestine."
  2. 2

    A similar small hair-like projection on the surface of other membranes or tissues.

    "The chorionic villus plays a vital role in the exchange of nutrients and oxygen between the mother and the developing fetus."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived directly from the Latin word 'villus', meaning shaggy hair, tuft of hair, or fleece. It entered scientific English in the 19th century as an anatomical term to describe microscopic, hair-like projections found on internal membranes, particularly in the small intestine.

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