bolus

/'bouləs/

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Word: Bolus

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: A "bolus" is a small, round mass. It can refer to a soft ball of food that you swallow or a large pill used in medicine, especially for animals.

Usage Instructions:

1. In everyday conversation: You might talk about a bolus when discussing how you swallow food.
2. In medical or veterinary contexts: You would use "bolus" to describe a specific type of medication or food given to animals.

Examples:

1. Food context: "After chewing my food well, I formed a bolus before swallowing."
2. Medical context: "The veterinarian gave the dog a bolus of medicine to help it recover."

Advanced Usage:

In medical terms, a bolus can also refer to a specific dose of medication administered quickly, often through an injection or intravenously.

Word Variants:

• Boluses (plural): More than one bolus.
• Bolus-like (adjective): Describing something that resembles a bolus.

Different Meanings:

1. Veterinary Medicine: Refers to a mass of food or a large pill given to animals.
2. Pharmacology: A single dose of a drug administered quickly to achieve a certain effect.

Synonyms:

• Mass: A general term for a large amount.
• Dose: A specific amount of medication.
• Chum: In the context of food, it can refer to a mixture of food, though it's less common.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with "bolus," but you might hear phrases like "swallow a bolus" in conversation about eating or taking medicine.

Summary:

The word "bolus" is primarily used to describe a small, rounded mass of food or a large pill, particularly in veterinary contexts. It can also refer to a quick dose of medication in medical settings.

Academic

Noun

1. a large pill; used especially in veterinary medicine
2. a small round soft mass (as of chewed food)