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pilus

pilus

9.9
A thin hair that grows from the skin of a mammal
  • noun
  • /ˈpaɪləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pilo
  • The cat's soft pilus provided insulation during the cold winter nights.

Examples

  • Each pilus emerges from a follicle located in the skin.

  • Some mammals have more than one type of pilus covering their bodies.

  • The dermatologist observed a broken pilus under the microscope.

  • The pilus is essential for the growth of hair.

  • Many mammals have a long pilus on their tails.

  • A pilus is visible on the surface of the mammal's skin.

  • Each pilus grows from a follicle that penetrates the skin of mammals.

Synonyms

hair
vspilus
1.0

Thin strands that grow from the skin of people or animals, especially on the head

is a single cylindrical filament term used in scientific contexts

Surface Forms

pilus singular
pili plural

Etymology

Pilus comes from Latin pilus, meaning 'hair'. It is a scientific name for a single hair or a hairlike thread that grows from a mammal's skin.