What does pilose mean?
Pilose means covered with hair, particularly soft or fine hair. The word is most common in biology, medicine, and descriptive writing, where it distinguishes a hairy or finely textured surface from one that is smooth, bare, or rough. A botanist might describe a leaf as pilose because of a dense covering of small hairs, while a zoologist might use the same adjective for an animal's furry body. Although "hairy" can communicate the basic idea in ordinary speech, pilose is more precise and more formal. It can also imply that the hairs are fine, downy, or soft rather than coarse. The word ultimately comes from Latin for "hair," a connection that remains evident in related terms concerning hair and its removal.
adjectiveCovered with hair, especially soft or fine hair. The term is chiefly used in biology, medicine, and descriptive writing.
- Covered with hair, especially soft or fine hair.
"The tiny moth had a soft, pilose body that blended into the lichen-covered bark."
"The caterpillar's pilose body was covered in fine, pale hairs."
"Botanists described the young leaves as pilose because of their dense covering of soft hairs."
A few words can turn an ordinary sight—a fuzzy leaf—into a precise description: pilose.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pilose come from?
The English word dates from the early 17th century and comes from Latin pilōsus, meaning "hairy," which was derived from pilus, "hair." The same Latin root underlies piliation and depilation, both associated with the removal of hair, as well as pilar, meaning relating to hair.
Related word forms
How pilose is actually used
Pilose is a formal, descriptive, and chiefly scientific term. It is uncommon in everyday speech but can add precision or an archaic flavor to literary descriptions.
Easily confused with pilose
Pilose is the adjective describing something covered with hair, whereas pilosity is the noun naming the condition or degree of being hairy.