follicle

[ fol-i-kuhl ]

noun

1. Anatomy.
   1. a small cavity, sac, or gland.
   2. one of the small ovarian sacs containing an immature ovum; Graafian follicle.
2. Botany. a dry seed vessel, or pod, consisting of a single carpel, splitting at maturity only along the front part of the suture.

follicle

/ fɒˈlɪkjʊˌleɪt; ˈfɒlɪkəl; fɒˈlɪkjʊlə /

noun

1. any small sac or cavity in the body having an excretory, secretory, or protective function

   a hair follicle

2. botany a dry fruit, formed from a single carpel, that splits along one side only to release its seeds: occurs in larkspur and columbine

follicle

/ fŏl′ĭ-kəl /

1. A small, protective sac, gland, or cluster of cells in the body. In mammals, unfertilized eggs develop in follicles located in the ovaries. Hair grows from follicles in the skin.
2. A dry, dehiscent fruit that develops from a single carpel, has a single chamber, and splits open along only one seam to release its seeds. The pod of the milkweed and the fruit of the magnolia are follicles.

Derived Forms

• follicular, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of follicle¹

First recorded in 1640–50, follicle is from the Latin word folliculus small bag, shell, pod. See follis, -cle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of follicle¹

C17: from Latin folliculus small bag, from follis pair of bellows, leather money-bag

Example Sentences

Alopecia is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking hair follicles at the root of the hair, causing it to fall out.

From BBC

Also called cicatricial alopecia, the condition causes permanent hair loss after the immune system attacks and destroys the follicles.

From BBC

Celebrities including Jada Pinkett Smith and Louis Theroux have been praised for sharing their experiences with alopecia - a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss.

From BBC

“They destroyed every bloodstain, every hair follicle, every shred of physical evidence which might tell us what those officers did inside the apartment to kill the boy,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Alopecia areata, which affects more than 6 million Americans, occurs when the body's own T cells attack hair follicles, leading the hair to fall out.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• hair
• lode
• nerve
• seam
• stripe