capsule

1.nounB1

Definition

a small gel container that holds a single dose of medicine and is swallowed without chewing

Example

The doctor told Priya to take one white capsule every morning before breakfast.

capsule as pill — swallowed whole

The vitamin capsules on the kitchen counter contain a blend of fish oil and vitamin D for heart health.

Common collocations

swallow a capsule
take a capsule
open a capsule
gel capsule
vitamin capsule

Synonyms

pill
more general term for any solid medicine taken orally; capsule is a type of pill
tablet
a solid flat pill made of compressed powder, unlike a gel capsule
caplet
a solid pill shaped like a capsule but made of compressed material

Common Mistakes

I took a capsule of bread this morning.

I took a capsule of medicine this morning.

a capsule is a container for medicine, not a piece of food.

2.nounB1

Definition

a sealed crew compartment on a space vehicle where astronauts live and travel, designed to detach from the rocket section

Example

The space capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean at sunrise.

capsule returning to Earth

Theo watched the live broadcast as the capsule docked with the space station.

Common collocations

space capsule
capsule docks
capsule re-enters
crew capsule
capsule separates

Synonyms

spacecraft
broader term for any vehicle designed for space travel
module
a detachable section of a spacecraft; a capsule is a type of module

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase space capsule. The capsule is the crew-carrying section, as distinct from the rocket boosters or service module.

Common Mistakes

The rocket capsule launched from the pad.

The space capsule launched on top of the rocket.

the capsule is one part of the spacecraft, not the entire rocket.

3.nounC1

Definition

a thin covering of body material that wraps around and protects an organ or a joint

Example

The doctor explained that the joint capsule had become inflamed after the injury.

joint capsule — anatomical sense

Leila's knee pain was caused by a small tear in the capsule around the joint.

Common collocations

joint capsule
renal capsule
articular capsule
capsule surrounding the ...
inflamed capsule

Synonyms

membrane
a broader term for thin tissue layers; a capsule is a type of membrane that encloses something
sac
a pouch-like structure; some body capsules are sac-shaped

Usage Note

This is an anatomical term. The capsule of a joint is often called the articular capsule; the capsule of an organ is often named after the organ (e.g. renal capsule, Glisson's capsule for the liver).

4.nounC1

Definition

a very short written or spoken version that covers only the most important ideas of something longer

Example

The professor handed out a capsule of the main ideas from the lecture.

capsule = concise summary

Each candidate presented a thirty-second capsule of their campaign promises.

Common collocations

capsule summary
capsule description
capsule version
capsule history

Synonyms

summary
the most common word for a brief restatement of main points
synopsis
a brief overview, especially of a written work; more formal than summary
outline
a structured list of main points, not necessarily condensed prose

Usage Note

Less common than summary or synopsis in everyday speech. Often found in formal or literary contexts (a capsule biography, a capsule description).

Idioms

time capsule

idiom

a container filled with objects and documents from a particular time, buried or hidden so that people in the future can find it and learn about the past

The school buried a time capsule in 1990 and opened it at the reunion twenty-five years later.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to put something into a capsule or seal it inside a small container

Example

The lab technician was trained to capsule each liquid sample before shipping it to the testing center for analysis.

capsule as verb — enclose in capsule

The automated machine on the factory floor capsules over five hundred doses of medicine every minute.

Common collocations

capsule a sample
capsule a dose
capsule a substance

Synonyms

encapsulate
more common synonym; also means enclose in a capsule
seal
to close something tightly; does not specifically imply a capsule shape
contain
to hold or have something inside; broader meaning

Antonyms

release
to let something out instead of enclosing it

Grammar Patterns

capsule + object

Usage Note

Less common than the noun form. In technical or manufacturing contexts, encapsulate is more frequently used.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to express a large amount of information in a very short and concentrated form

Example

The editor asked the journalist to capsule the two-hour interview into a single paragraph for the front page.

capsule into — condense information

The team's proposal, capsuled in five bullet points, was sent to the CEO by Yusuf.

Common collocations

capsule into
capsuled summary
capsuled version

Synonyms

summarize
the most common everyday verb for stating main points briefly
condense
to make something shorter while keeping the essential content
abridge
to shorten a text; typically used for books or written works

Antonyms

expand
to add more detail rather than shorten

Grammar Patterns

capsule + object + into + noun

Usage Note

Often followed by into to indicate the concise form that results. The noun summary or the verb summarize are much more common in everyday speech.

1.adjectiveC1

Definition

expressed in very few words; giving only the most essential information with no extra detail

Example

The news channel offered a capsule summary of the day's major events at midnight.

capsule summary — very brief account

Beatriz gave a capsule review of the film in just two short sentences.

Common collocations

capsule summary
capsule review
capsule history
capsule description

Synonyms

brief
the general-purpose adjective for short duration or length; less formal than capsule
concise
short but containing all necessary information; positive connotation
succinct
expressed clearly in few words; formal and positive

Antonyms

lengthy
taking a lot of time or containing many words

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun describing a type of text or account (summary, review, history, description). Compare with the adjective summary, which is more common.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

designed to be very small and to make efficient use of space

Example

The capsule design for the camping stove fits neatly inside a large metal mug, saving space in the backpack.

capsule design = compact

Many travelers prefer capsule hotels for their low cost and smart use of space.

capsule hotel — very small room

Common collocations

capsule hotel
capsule wardrobe
capsule collection
capsule design

Synonyms

compact
the most common synonym; describes something that takes up little space
miniature
a much smaller version of something; emphasizes scale rather than efficiency
tiny
very small in size; informal and general

Antonyms

spacious
having a lot of space inside

Usage Note

Often appears in compound nouns: capsule hotel, capsule wardrobe, capsule collection. These describe a concept where small size is seen as a feature, not a limitation.

Word family

capsular
adjectiveC1
encapsulate
verbC1
encapsulation
nounC1
capsulize
verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Capsule, pill, tablet, and caplet all refer to solid medicine taken by mouth, but they differ in form. A capsule is a gel shell containing powder or liquid medicine — it is swallowed whole and dissolves in the stomach. A pill is the most general term and can refer to any small, solid dose of medicine, regardless of shape. A tablet is a specific type of pill made by compressing powder into a flat, often round or oval disc; it may have a line down the middle so it can be broken in half. A caplet is a tablet shaped like a capsule for easier swallowing but made entirely of compressed material, not a gel shell. In everyday conversation, pill is the most common word: people say 'take a pill' even when the medicine is a capsule. In more precise or medical contexts, capsule and tablet are preferred to describe the actual form. For example, a doctor might say 'take this capsule twice a day with food' to specify that the medicine is in gel form and should not be opened or chewed.

capsule ↗pill ↗tablet ↗caplet

Common collocations

Nouns

capsule form
capsule design
capsule version
capsule collection
capsule wardrobe
capsule hotel

Adverbs

Phrases

in capsule form
in a capsule
take in capsule form

Prepositions

in a capsule
into a capsule
in capsule form

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Capsule came into English from French, which took it from Latin capsula, meaning 'a small box or container.' The Latin word capsula is a smaller version of capsa, meaning 'a box or case for storing things.' The medicine sense appeared in English in the 1800s when gelatin capsules were invented to make swallowing medicine easier. The spacecraft sense dates from the 1950s during the early space program, comparing the crew compartment to a sealed container.

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capsule

capsule — noun

1. a small gel container that holds a single dose of medicine and is swallowed with

Common Mistakes

2. a sealed crew compartment on a space vehicle where astronauts live and travel, d

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a thin covering of body material that wraps around and protects an organ or a jo

Usage Note

4. a very short written or spoken version that covers only the most important ideas

Usage Note

time capsule

capsule — verb

1. to put something into a capsule or seal it inside a small container

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

2. to express a large amount of information in a very short and concentrated form

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

capsule — adjective

1. expressed in very few words; giving only the most essential information with no

Usage Note

2. designed to be very small and to make efficient use of space

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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