tubule

noun

tu·​bule ˈtü-(ˌ)byül How to pronounce tubule (audio)
ˈtyü-
: a small tube
especially : a slender elongated anatomical channel

Examples of tubule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Inside, the testicle is full of small, packed tubules called seminiferous tubules, where sperm is produced. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 Protein in urine—especially albumin—can be toxic to the kidney tubules, which transfer waste from the glomeruli to your urine. — Md Published, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026 Other medications act like poison, killing kidney tubule cells, which help to filter wastes and reabsorb nutrients. — Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026 Williams and his team spent five years developing a system that combined an AI algorithm for detecting sperm with a fluidic chip that passed the semen sample through a tiny tubule on a plastic chip. — Alice Park, Time, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tubule

Word History

Etymology

Latin tubulus, diminutive of tubus

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tubule was in 1677

Phrases Containing tubule

Rhymes for tubule

See All Rhymes for tubule

Browse Nearby Words

tubulature
tubule
tubulibranchiata
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tubule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tubule. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tubule

noun
tu·​bule ˈt(y)ü-(ˌ)byü(ə)l How to pronounce tubule (audio)
: a small tube
especially : a long slender channel in the body of a living thing

Medical Definition

tubule

noun
tu·​bule ˈt(y)ü-(ˌ)byü(ə)l How to pronounce tubule (audio)
: a small tube
especially : a slender elongated anatomical channel

More from Merriam-Webster on tubule

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tubule

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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