Meaning & use
fibrils
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“fibrils” is a form of “fibril”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluraltechnicalbiology
Very small thread-like fibers, especially those that make up muscle tissue or plant cell walls.
Grammar: Usually plural; the singular 'fibril' refers to one such thread.
Patterns
- fibrils of something
- muscle fibrils
- collagen fibrils
Under the microscope we could see bundles of fibrils running along the muscle.
The cell wall is strengthened by cellulose fibrils.
Collagen fibrils give skin its firmness.
nounpluraltechnicalspecialist
Fine thread-like strands that form part of a larger structure, such as in wood, paper, or certain materials.
Grammar: Used mainly in scientific or technical writing about materials.
Patterns
- fibrils in something
- form fibrils
As the solution dried, protein fibrils began to form.
The paper's strength comes from the way its fibrils interlock.
Word forms
| singular | fibril |
|---|
Common combinations
- muscle fibrils
- Damage to the muscle fibrils can cause weakness.
- collagen fibrils
- Collagen fibrils provide structure in connective tissue.
- protein fibrils
- Protein fibrils are linked to several diseases.
- fine fibrils
- The spider silk is made of extremely fine fibrils.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- fibrillar adjective
- Relating to or made of fibrils.
- fibrillary adjective
- Technical term describing structures containing small fibers.
Commonly confused: fibrils or fibrillation?
fibrils vs fibrillation
A medical term for rapid irregular heartbeats; it is related in origin but means something quite different.
Practice
In which sentence is 'fibrils' used correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Fibrils' are tiny thread-like fibers, so they naturally form part of muscle tissue. The first option confuses fibrils with heartbeats, the third treats a fibril as ordinary string, and the fourth is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fibrils”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.