corpuscular

American  

[kawr-puhs-kyuh-ler] / kɔrˈpʌs kyə lər /

Rarely corpusculated

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.

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Other Word Forms

• corpuscularity noun
• intercorpuscular adjective
• noncorpuscular adjective

Etymology

Origin of corpuscular

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