tubercle

[ too-ber-kuhl, tyoo- ]

noun

1. a small rounded projection or excrescence, as on a bone or on the surface of the body.
2. Pathology.
   1. a small, firm, rounded nodule or swelling.
   2. such a swelling as the characteristic lesion of tuberculosis.
3. Botany. a tuberlike swelling or nodule.

tubercle

/ ˈtjuːbəkəl /

noun

1. any small rounded nodule or elevation, esp on the skin, on a bone, or on a plant
2. any small rounded pathological lesion of the tissues, esp one characteristic of tuberculosis

tubercle

/ to̅o̅′bər-kəl /

1. A small rounded projection, swelling, or lump, as on the roots of legumes or on bodily tissue, especially the cluster of inflammatory cells that form in the lungs in tuberculosis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tubercle¹

From the Latin word tūberculum, dating back to 1570–80. See tuber ¹, -cle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tubercle¹

C16: from Latin tūberculum a little swelling, diminutive of tuber

Example Sentences

Northwestern's Zhou found correlations to BMI in the circuit between the olfactory tubercle and the midbrain region, the periaqueductal gray.

From Science Daily

The fish — found in various locations including in northern Washington, the Bering Sea, Siberia and northern Japan — are covered in bumps called tubercles, which provide a cartilage coat that keep the fish afloat.

From Seattle Times

That happened Dec. 29: a medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction by way of a tibial tubercle osteotomy, which involved breaking his tibia bone and realigning it with the knee joint.

From Washington Times

The scientists said the gaps where the tubercles peaked through the skin were "windows" that helped UV rays reach the bone and get absorbed.

From National Geographic

The present comparative rarity of tuberculosis results in large measure from the fact that the average person now seldom comes into contact with the tubercle bacillus.

From Literature