Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
Villarrica
villein
villeinage
villi
villiform
villose
villosity
villous
villus
Vilnius
vim
VIN
vin-
vin.
vin ordinaire
vina
vinaceous
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "villus" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

villus

vil·lus [ vílləss ] (plural vil·li [ ví l ])


noun 
Definition:
 
1. minute protuberance: a vascular protuberance growing out from some mucous membranes, e.g. from that of the small intestine of some vertebrates or from the chorion that surrounds an embryo

2. zoology anatomy placental growth: a finger-shaped protuberance that contributes to the formation of the placenta in mammals

3. outgrowth on plant: a fine part resembling a hair, growing from the surface of a plant

[Early 18th century. < Latin, "shaggy hair"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft