Defn: The quality of being capillary.
CAPILLARITY
Cap`il*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capillarité.]
1. The quality or condition of being capillary.
2. (Physics)
Defn: 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.
Note: Capillarity depends upon the relative attaction 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.
CAPILLARY
Cap"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [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.
2. Pertaining to capillary tubes or vessels; as, capillary action. Capillary attraction, Capillary repulsion, the apparent attraction or repulsion between a soild and liquid caused bycapillarity. See Capillarity, and Attraction. — Capillarity tubes. See the Note under Capillarity.
CAPILLARY
Cap"il*la*ry, n.; pl., Capillaries (.