n. The quality of being capillary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. capillarité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or condition of being capillary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physics) The peculiar action by which the surface of a liquid, where it is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube), is elevated or depressed; capillary attraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Capillarity depends upon the relative attraction of the modecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid, and is especially observable in capillary tubes, where it determines the ascent or descent of the liquid above or below the level of the liquid which the tube is dipped; -- hence the name. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. capillaris, fr. capillus hair. Cf. Capillaire. ] 1. Resembling a hair; fine; minute; very slender; having minute tubes or interspaces; having very small bore; as, the capillary vessels of animals and plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to capillary tubes or vessels; as, capillary action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Capillary attraction,
Capillary repulsion, the apparent attraction or repulsion between a solid and liquid caused by capillarity. See Capillarity, and Attraction. --
Capillarity tubes. See the Note under Capillarity.
[ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Capillaries 1. A tube or vessel, extremely fine or minute. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A minute, thin-walled vessel; particularly one of the smallest blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, but used also for the smallest lymphatic and biliary vessels. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair. ] 1. (Zool.) The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars. [ 1913 Webster ]

Caterpillar catcher, or
Caterpillar eater (Zool.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. --
Caterpillar hunter (Zool.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an endless belt looped over several wheels, used in pairs in place of wheels to propel vehicles, such as tractors or military tanks, over rough ground. [ PJC ]

adj. having caterpillar treads or tracks on the wheels; as, a caterpillar-tracked earthmover.
Syn. -- caterpillar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Physics) The occurrence or production of certain capillary effects by the action of an electrical current or charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physics) Pert. to, or caused by, electro-capillarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. papillaire. ] Same as Papillose. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. papillaire. ] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a papilla or papillæ; bearing, or covered with, papillæ; papillose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap. ] 1. The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jacob set a pillar upon her grave. Gen. xxxv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

The place . . . vast and proud,
Supported by a hundred pillars stood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state. “You are a well-deserving pillar.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church. [ Obs. ] Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Man.) The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns. [ 1913 Webster ]

From pillar to post, hither and thither; to and fro; from one place or predicament to another; backward and forward. [ Colloq. ] --
Pillar saint. See Stylite. --
Pillars of the fauces. See Fauces, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Mach.) Having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See under Pillow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Supported or ornamented by pillars; resembling a pillar, or pillars. “The pillared arches.” Sir W. Scott. “Pillared flame.” Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little pillar. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) See Stylite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. pupillarité. See Pupillary. ] (Scots Law) The period before puberty, or from birth to fourteen in males, and twelve in females. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pupillaris: cf. F. pupillaire. See Pupil. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a pupil or ward. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pupil of the eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

A waterspout. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]