capillary tube: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+ / TechnicalFormal, Scientific, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “capillary tube” mean?
a very narrow, hollow tube with a tiny internal diameter, often used to transport or collect small liquid samples via capillary action (where liquid flows without external force due to adhesion and cohesion).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a very narrow, hollow tube with a tiny internal diameter, often used to transport or collect small liquid samples via capillary action (where liquid flows without external force due to adhesion and cohesion).
In broader contexts, can refer to any slender, tube-like structure found in nature or technology (e.g., capillary blood vessels, capillary columns in chromatography). The term emphasizes minimal diameter and passive fluid movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling follows standard national conventions for other words in the sentence (e.g., 'behaviour' vs. 'behavior'), but 'capillary tube' itself is invariant.
Connotations
Identically technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and domain-specific in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “capillary tube” in a Sentence
VERB + capillary tube: use, insert, fill, seal, break, calibrateADJECTIVE + capillary tube: glass, calibrated, fine-bore, disposable, plasticVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capillary tube” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sample was carefully capillary-tubed into the analyser. (Highly specialised, rare)
American English
- They capillary-tubed the reagent to avoid contamination. (Highly specialised, rare)
adverb
British English
- The fluid moved capillary-tube slowly across the gap. (Extremely rare/unnatural)
American English
- N/A – not used adverbially.
adjective
British English
- The capillary-tube method is standard for melting point determination.
American English
- Ensure you have capillary-tube specimens ready for the hematocrit test.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except in specific industries like scientific instrument manufacturing or medical device sales.
Academic
Common in lab reports, physics (fluid dynamics), chemistry, biology, and medical texts (e.g., blood collection).
Everyday
Virtually never used. A layperson might say 'a very thin straw' or 'a tiny tube'.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in experimental procedures, instrument design, medical diagnostics, and engineering specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capillary tube”
- Confusing 'capillary tube' (the object) with 'capillary action' (the phenomenon).
- Using it in non-technical contexts where simpler words ('thin tube') suffice.
- Misspelling as 'capilary' (missing one 'l') or 'capillery'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are tubes, a capillary tube is much narrower in diameter and relies on capillary action to draw in liquid, whereas a straw requires suction from the user.
They are most often made of glass (e.g., soda-lime or borosilicate) for transparency and chemical resistance, but plastic capillaries are also used for disposable applications in medicine.
It can be difficult due to the very small diameter. Often, the liquid meniscus (curved surface) is observed using a magnifying lens or special apparatus.
Yes. It is a noun-noun compound where 'capillary' acts as an attributive noun modifying 'tube', specifying the type of tube.
a very narrow, hollow tube with a tiny internal diameter, often used to transport or collect small liquid samples via capillary action (where liquid flows without external force due to adhesion and cohesion).
Capillary tube is usually formal, scientific, technical, medical in register.
Capillary tube: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈpɪləri tjuːb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæpəleri tuːb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A - Technical term does not generate idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'capillary' like 'hair' (from Latin 'capillus'). A capillary tube is as thin as a hair.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HIGHWAY FOR MOLECULES / A STRAW FOR ANTS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary physical principle that allows a capillary tube to function without a pump?