nodule
/ˈnɒdjuːl
/noun
1A small swelling or aggregation of cells in the body, especially an abnormal one: the area feels firm but has irregular nodules which can be painful to touch laparotomy showed white nodules in the liver...
- Regional adenopathy, satellite lesions, and subcutaneous nodules can be present.
- A computed tomography scan showed multiple nodules in the liver and bilateral pulmonary metastasis.
- Except for her purulent, multifocal, subcutaneous nodules, she was generally in good health.
1.1 (usually root nodule) A swelling on a root of a leguminous plant, containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria.From this point on, the bacteria and the plant - members of two separate kingdoms - share the know-how and labor needed to construct what is essentially a new organ: a fully operational nitrogen-fixing root nodule....
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodules of leguminous plants (such as peas and clover) take in nitrogen direct from the air and pass it on to the plant, both feeding the plant and enriching the soil.
- In return, the plant shelters and nourishes the bacterium inside root nodules, where nitrogen fixation occurs.
2A small rounded lump of matter distinct from its surroundings, e.g. of flint in chalk, carbon in cast iron, or a mineral on the seabed: flint nodules in the coal pits nodules of iron ore were mined...
- It is more visible when there are beds rich in clays, shell layers, or flints nodules.
- Turquoise here was found as vein fillings and nodules in weathered Precambrian granite.
- Crystals of brown sphalerite are found in fractures and on the surfaces of some chert nodules.
Derivatives
nodular
/ adjective ...- The most recent find was a spectacular nodular formation of green apophyllite on white petal-shaped stilbite, discovered last year.
- No bile ducts were involved in the nodular lesion.
- For example, nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid may present as perithyroidal nodules.
nodulated
/ adjective ...- Roots of individual plants were visually classified into two groups: nodulated and nonnodulated, as previously described.
- In good conditions, a well nodulated soybean plant should have five to seven nodules on the tap root two weeks after emergence or twelve nodules per inch of tap root at flowering.
- Soon after flowering and pod set, if soil residual nitrogen is low and plants are poorly nodulated, nitrogen deficiency symptoms may appear.
nodulation
- However, root nodules do not use nitrogen gas efficiently in the presence of a significant level of nitrate in the soil, because nitrate inhibits nodulation and nitrogenase activity.
- The level of nitrate supply was chosen to limit, but not suppress, nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
- As always, when investigating nodulation in fields, it is extremely important to remember the high variability that occurs across years, water levels, and soil types.
nodulose
/ adjective ...- This is a small, very deep water species, readily identified by the nodulose ribs on the shell.
- In addition, the nodulose surface strip is a relatively inexpensive item that can easily be replaced when worn out.
- Microscopically, this type of mushroom is easily distinguished by its nodulose spores.
nodulous
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin nodulus, diminutive of nodus 'knot'.
Rhymes
- hold forth
- hold good (or true)
- hold hands
- hold hard
- holding
- holding company
- holding game
- holding ground
- holding operation
- holding paddock
- holding pattern
- holding tank
- hold no brief for
- hold off
- hold on
- hold one's breath
- hold one's ground
- hold one's head up (or hold one's head high)
- hold one's horses
- hold one's nose
- hold one's own
- hold one's peace
- hold (one's) serve (or service)
- hold one's tongue
- hold one's whisht