capsule
/ˈkæpsjuːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæpsl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkap-səl -(ˌ)sül also -ˌsyül/ (ame, mw)
capsule — noun
1. a small gel container that holds a single dose of medicine and is swallowed with
a small gel container that holds a single dose of medicine and is swallowed without chewing
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.
Ravi opened the capsule and mixed the powder into his juice.
The pharmacist warned Hana not to chew the capsule but to swallow it whole.
常見錯誤
2. a sealed crew compartment on a space vehicle where astronauts live and travel, d
a sealed crew compartment on a space vehicle where astronauts live and travel, designed to detach from the rocket section
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.
Engineers designed a new capsule that can carry four astronauts to the Moon.
The capsule's heat shield protected the crew during re-entry into the atmosphere.
- spacecraft
broader term for any vehicle designed for space travel
- module
a detachable section of a spacecraft; a capsule is a type of module
用法筆記
Often used in the phrase space capsule. The capsule is the crew-carrying section, as distinct from the rocket boosters or service module.
常見錯誤
3. a thin covering of body material that wraps around and protects an organ or a jo
a thin covering of body material that wraps around and protects an organ or a joint
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.
The renal capsule protects the kidney from infection and from physical damage.
Ines learned in biology class that every movable joint in the body has a capsule filled with fluid.
用法筆記
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. a very short written or spoken version that covers only the most important ideas
a very short written or spoken version that covers only the most important ideas of something longer
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.
Yara wrote a one-page capsule of the novel so the book club members could catch up before the meeting.
The museum website offers a capsule of the exhibition so visitors can preview the highlights before arriving.
用法筆記
Less common than summary or synopsis in everyday speech. Often found in formal or literary contexts (a capsule biography, a capsule description).
capsule — verb
1. to put something into a capsule or seal it inside a small container
to put something into a capsule or seal it inside a small container
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.
The research team developed a new way to capsule the medicine so it releases slowly inside the stomach.
Each dose of the new drug was capsuled under sterile conditions at the pharmaceutical plant.
- 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
- release
to let something out instead of enclosing it
文法句型
capsule + object
用法筆記
Less common than the noun form. In technical or manufacturing contexts, encapsulate is more frequently used.
2. to express a large amount of information in a very short and concentrated form
to express a large amount of information in a very short and concentrated form
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.
Can you capsule the main arguments of this long article in under sixty seconds for the team meeting?
The film's two-minute trailer capsuled the entire three-hour story for the audience.
- expand
to add more detail rather than shorten
文法句型
capsule + object + into + noun
用法筆記
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.
capsule — adjective
1. expressed in very few words; giving only the most essential information with no
expressed in very few words; giving only the most essential information with no extra detail
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.
The guidebook opens with a capsule history of the city from its early days.
The magazine printed a capsule biography of the artist on her birthday.
- lengthy
taking a lot of time or containing many words
用法筆記
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. designed to be very small and to make efficient use of space
designed to be very small and to make efficient use of space
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
Aiko bought a capsule wardrobe of just thirty pieces that all match each other.
The capsule collection features ten classic games on one tiny cartridge for retro fans.
- spacious
having a lot of space inside
用法筆記
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.