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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Capsule Definition, Usage & Key Differences (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：small medicine case (capsule)

capsule 🔊
/ˈkæpsjuːl/
n.
A small container made of gel or similar material that holds a dose of medicine, which you swallow whole.
Capsule medicine illustration showing gel capsules in hand for dosage.
small medicine case 🔊
➕
/smɔːl ˈmed.ɪ.sɪn keɪs/
n.
A small, often cylindrical container, typically made of gelatin, designed to hold a measured dose of medicine for oral consumption.
📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'capsula', a diminutive of 'capsa', meaning 'box' or 'case'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a CAPsule as having the CAPacity to hold something important, like medicine for a patient or a space CAPtain.
📖 Example
The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics in capsule form, so I have to swallow two of these little pills after breakfast. 🔊 The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics in capsule form, so I have to swallow two of these little pills after breakfast.
🔗 Collocations
gel capsule – a pill casing made of gelatin
time-release capsule – a pill designed to dissolve slowly and release medicine over time
swallow a capsule – to ingest a pill whole
🔄 Synonyms
pill (n.) – a small rounded mass of solid medicine for swallowing whole
tablet (n.) – a small, flat, compressed piece of medicine
lozenge (n.) – a small medicinal tablet, often designed to dissolve in the mouth
🚫 Antonyms
large bottle (n.) – a big container for liquid medicine, not designed for swallowing whole
🌱 Derivatives
encapsulate (v.) – to enclose something in or as if in a capsule; to summarize concisely
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'capsule' originates from the Latin 'capsula' (small box). It entered English in the 17th century. Its modern meanings evolved significantly: first describing a small medicinal container in the 19th century, and later, in the mid-20th century, being adopted for the sealed compartment of a spacecraft, emphasizing its protective, enclosed nature.

Meaning 2：spacecraft compartment (capsule)

capsule 🔊
/ˈkæpsjuːl/
n.
A small, sealed compartment in a spacecraft where the astronauts sit and live during their journey.
Space capsule interior view with astronaut looking at Earth from orbit.
spacecraft compartment 🔊
➕
/ˈspeɪs.krɑːft kəmˈpɑːt.mənt/
n.
A small, sealed, pressurized cabin on a spacecraft or aircraft, designed to house crew, passengers, or instruments.
📁 Category：Space Exploration 🔖 Level：中级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
The astronauts entered the tiny capsule, feeling both excited and nervous as they prepared for their journey to the International Space Station. 🔊 The astronauts entered the tiny capsule, feeling both excited and nervous as they prepared for their journey to the International Space Station.
🔗 Collocations
crew capsule – the part of a spacecraft that contains the astronauts
reentry capsule – the section of a spacecraft designed to survive atmospheric reentry
space capsule – a vehicle or compartment for space travel
🔄 Synonyms
module (n.) – a self-contained unit or compartment within a larger structure, especially a spacecraft
pod (n.) – a detachable compartment on a vehicle or aircraft
cockpit (n.) – a compartment for the pilot and crew in an aircraft
🚫 Antonyms
open deck (n.) – an unenclosed area on a ship or vehicle
🌱 Derivatives
encapsulated (adj.) – sealed in a protective covering; isolated
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