corpuscular

[ kawr-puhs-kyuh-ler ]

adjective

1. Biology. of or relating to a corpuscle, or unattached cell, especially of the kind that floats freely, such as a blood or lymph cell:

   Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the average size of red blood cells.

2. Anatomy. of or relating to a corpuscle, a small mass or body of cells forming a more or less distinct part, such as the sensory receptors at nerve endings.
3. Physical Chemistry. of or relating to a corpuscle, a minute or elementary particle of matter, such as an electron, proton, or atom.
4. being, relating to, or similar to a particle:

   Do the experiment with something known to be corpuscular rather than wavelike, such as marbles.

Other Words From

• cor·pus·cu·lar·i·ty [kawr-puhs-ky, uh, -, lar, -i-tee], noun
• in·ter·cor·pus·cu·lar adjective
• non·cor·pus·cu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of corpuscular¹

First recorded in 1660–70; Latin corpuscul(um) “small body” ( corpuscle ( def ) ) + -ar ¹( def )

Example Sentences

The MCV, or "Mean Corpuscular Volume" count, measures the average size of red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.

From BBC

After 1659 the English usually called this ‘the mechanical philosophy’, although Boyle was soon to introduce the much less confusing terms ‘the corpuscularian philosophy’ and ‘the corpuscular philosophy’.

From Literature

In English there was an alternative: Robert Boyle invented the term ‘the corpuscularian philosophy’ in 1662 to cover both ancient atomism and Descartes’ new corpuscular theory.

From Literature

The corpuscular philosophy was absolutely crucial to the Scientific Revolution in that it provided an alternative to the Aristotelian doctrine of forms or substances, of immaterial essences; consequently, it excluded teleology from the nature of things.

From Literature

Modern physics, chemistry and biology do not emerge out of the corpuscular philosophy, but out of its collapse.

From Literature