capsule

UK: /ˈkæpsjuːl/

US: /ˈkæpsəl, -sul/

US: (kap′səl, -so̅o̅l, -syo̅o̅l)

Inflections of 'capsule' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

capsules

v 3rd person singular

capsuling

v pres p

capsuled

v past

capsuled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cap•sule /ˈkæpsəl, -sul/   n. 

[countable]
1. Drugs a very small, usually tube-shaped casing with a dose of medicine inside, designed to be swallowed.
2. Biology a similar structure in a plant, esp. a case containing a seed or seeds.
3. Aeronautics, Aerospace Also called space capsule. a sealed cabin in which a person or animal can ride in flight in space.

adj. [before a noun]

4. short and concise;
   briefly described:
   a capsule report; a capsule summary.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cap•sule  (kap′səl, -so̅o̅l, -syo̅o̅l), n., v., -suled, -sul•ing, adj. 
n. 

1. Drugs [Pharm.] a gelatinous case enclosing a dose of medicine.
2. Biology
   • a membranous sac or integument.
   • either of two strata of white matter in the cerebrum.
   • the sporangium of various spore-producing organisms, as ferns, mosses, algae, and fungi.
3. Botany a dry dehiscent fruit, composed of two or more carpels.
4. a small case, envelope, or covering.
5. Aeronautics, Aerospace Also called space capsule. a sealed cabin, container, or vehicle in which a person or animal can ride in flight in space or at very high altitudes within the earth's atmosphere.
6. Aeronautics [Aviation.] a similar cabin in a military aircraft, which can be ejected from the aircraft in an emergency.
7. Wine a thin metal covering for the mouth of a corked bottle.
8. a concise report;
   brief outline:
   An appendix to the book contains biographical capsules of the contributors.

v.t. 

9. to furnish with or enclose in or as if in a capsule;
   encapsulate.
10. to capsulize.

adj. 

11. small and compact.
12. short and concise;
    brief and summarized:
    a capsule report.

• Latin capsula, equivalent. to caps(a) box (see case²) + -ula -ule
• French)
• 1645–55; 1950–55 for def. 5; (

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

capsule / ˈkæpsjuːl/ noun

1. a soluble case of gelatine enclosing a dose of medicine
2. a thin metal cap, seal, or cover, such as the foil covering the cork of a wine bottle
3. a dry fruit that liberates its seeds by splitting, as in the violet, or through pores, as in the poppy
4. the spore-producing organ of mosses and liverworts
5. a cartilaginous, fibrous, or membranous envelope surrounding any of certain organs or parts
6. See space capsule
7. an aeroplane cockpit that can be ejected in a flight emergency, complete with crew, instruments, etc
8. (modifier) in a highly concise form: a capsule summary

Etymology: 17th Century: from French, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa box