capsule
UK: ˈkæpsjuːl | US: ˈkæpsəl
n. a small case or container, often for medicine
n. a detachable compartment of a spacecraft
n. (biology) a protective layer surrounding certain microorganisms
adj. concise or condensed (e.g., "capsule summary")
The word "capsule" traces back to Latin capsula, a diminutive of capsa ("box"). The original sense referred to a small container, which evolved to describe medicinal cases, spacecraft compartments, and biological membranes. The suffix -ule reinforces the idea of smallness, making "capsule" literally "a little box." Over time, its meaning expanded metaphorically (e.g., "capsule wardrobe" for a compact collection).
The doctor handed her a capsule of antibiotics.
The space capsule safely re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Bacteria sometimes form a protective capsule to resist antibiotics.
The news provided a capsule version of the event.
She packed a capsule wardrobe for her weekend trip.