villus

vil·lus  (vls)

n. pl. vil·li (vl)

1. Biology A minute projection arising from a mucous membrane, especially:

a. One of the numerous vascular projections of the small intestine.

b. One of the fingerlike projections of the chorion that contribute to the formation of the placenta in mammals.

2. Botany A fine, hairlike epidermal outgrowth.

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[Latin, shaggy hair.]

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villus [ˈvɪləs]

n pl villi [ˈvɪlaɪ] (usually plural)

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Zoology anatomy any of the numerous finger-like projections of the mucous membrane lining the small intestine of many vertebrates

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) any similar membranous process, such as any of those in the mammalian placenta

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) Botany any of various hairlike outgrowths, as from the stem of a moss

[from Latin: shaggy hair]

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villus  (vls)

Plural villi (vl)

A small projection on the surface of a mucous membrane, such as that of the small intestine.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

villus - a minute hairlike projection on mucous membrane chorionic villus - one of the tiny villi that stick out of the fetal chorion and combine with the mother's uterine tissue to form the placenta appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process"