arteriole|ɑːˈtɪərɪəʊl| [ad.mod.L. artēriola, dim. of artēria artery; cf. F. artériole.] A minute or ultimate artery. 1839–47Todd Cycl.Anat. & Phys. III. 989/2 The branchial artery..giving off arterioles to the branchial laminæ.1878Smithsonian Rep. 424 The arterioles of the muscles.