tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part (such as a bone) and transmits the force which the muscle exerts

Examples of tendon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were just too many family members and friends for Highlands Ranch native Mallory Swanson to provide with tickets for her first match back in Colorado since tearing her patellar tendon a little more than a year ago. —Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 1 June 2024

Following a 25-pitch live batting practice session Thursday, the outing will be Ray’s first time pitching in a game since undergoing Tommy John and flexor tendon surgeries last spring. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024

Our gripper simultaneously resolves the issue of smooth absorption of the impact energy and fast closure of the claws by linking the motion of an ankle linkage and the claws through soft tendons. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 May 2024

The tendon is then split to expose underlying tissues and bone. —Oluseun Olufade, Verywell Health, 1 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin tendōn-, tendō, probably derivative of Latin tendere "to extend outward, stretch" after Greek tenont-, ténōn "sinew, tendon," from ten-, variant stem of teínein "to stretch, extend" + -ont-, -ōn, deverbal noun suffix — more at tender entry 3

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tendon

• Achilles tendon
• tendon of Achilles

Kids Definition

tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white connective tissue that links a muscle to some other part (as a bone)

Medical Definition

tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part, transmits the force which the muscle exerts, and is continuous with the connective-tissue epimysium and perimysium of the muscle and when inserted into a bone with the periosteum of the bone