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Glite Dictionary
unilocular

unilocular

9.7
Having only one chamber inside, for example in a fruit or cyst
  • adjective
  • /ˌjuːnɪˈlɒkjʊlər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : unilocular
  • The doctor explained that the tumor was a unilocular cyst, meaning it had only one chamber.

Examples

  • Ultrasonography showed a unilocular cystic mass and a normal-appearing thyroid gland.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Radiographically, COF appears as an intraosseous lesion surrounded by a unilocular, well-defined sclerotic border.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The growth of individual LDs within most cells results in a multilocular appearance, whereas in cells such as white adipocytes, a large unilocular droplet forms.

    Blog text (27)

  • During the examination, they noticed a unilocular structure in the laboratory sample.

  • The biologist described the unilocular nature of the cell, which is crucial for its function.

Antonyms

multilocular
  • Specialized
9.1

Having many small chambers inside, like a cyst or tomato

How Many Chambers

multilocular
  • Specialized
9.1
bilocular
  • Specialized
9.9
unilocular
  • Specialized
9.7

Surface Forms

unilocular positive

Morphology

unilocular = locular (semi-transparent) = uni + locul + ar

The prefix 'uni-' clearly signals 'one', but the root 'locul-/locule' and the adjective-forming '-ar' are technical biological terms unlikely to be known by an average B1 learner, so the overall meaning is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Unilocular comes from uni- meaning 'one' and loc- meaning 'place', the same root you see in location. Think of it as 'one small room', so unilocular describes something with a single chamber or compartment.