Definitions

1. noun

A small rounded projection or swelling, especially on a leaf or the skin of an animal.

“The plant’s leaf had several small tubercles along its edge.”

2. noun

A small rounded or conical body, especially in the form of a small grain or cell, which forms a part of an organism, especially a plant or an animal.

“The tubercles on the skin of the frog were an essential part of its camouflage.”

3. noun

A small rounded swelling on a bone or a joint, especially one that is a remnant of a bone that has been absorbed.

“The x-ray showed several small tubercles on the patient’s spine.”

4. noun

A small rounded or conical body or growth on the surface of something, especially a mineral or a rock.

“The tubercles on the rock surface were an indication of the area’s geological history.”