villi-, vill- +

Regarding something that produces or has villi: In the context of biology or medicine, villiferous tissues, like villiferous tumors, have finger-like membranes or projections

In the form of or resembling a minute projection: The teeth of certain fish are considered to be villiform because they are shaped and set so as to resemble the pile of velvet.

Some villiform plants have the form of a villus or of villi, like small hairs.

A peptide hormone hypothesized to exist in the duodenum: The villikinin is said to stimulate villus movement, and to be released by action of hydrochloric acid on the mucous membrane.

An intracellular protein found in the intestinal epithelium and elsewhere: Villin severs microfilaments at high calcium concentrations and blocks their growth at low calcium concentrations.

Referring to vegetation with shaggy and soft hairs; covered with villi: Villous plants are those that have long and soft shaggy hairs

A villous organism is pubescent, shaggy, and is covered with fine long hairs, but the hairs are not matted.

Inflammation of the villous surface of the placenta: Villositis is an ailment of the chorionic villi in the placenta that is often caused by bacteria and that can lead to complications during pregnancy.

The condition of being covered with villi: Sometimes when a plant becomes too dry, villosity seems to be quite visible, with much hairiness.

1. One of the minute, finger-like processes on certain membranes: Villi exist especially,on the mucous membrane of the small intestine, where they serve in absorbing nutriments.
2. One of the long, soft, straight hairs covering the fruit, flowers, and other parts of certain plants: In her botany book. Mary read about villi in vegetation, and found that moss stems are also known for having villi.

Synovectomy; excision of a synovial villus: Sherry had pains in the joint of her left knee, and the doctor said that a villusectomy would be the best method to relieve her of pain in the long run.