connective tissue

noun

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (such as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (such as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (such as cartilage and bone)

Examples of connective tissue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rachel also had a painful connective tissue disorder. —Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024

The test tells you if your cat is clear, a carrier, at risk, or at high risk of numerous metabolic, cardiovascular, eye, blood, endocrine, renal, autoimmune, skin, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue disorders, as well as blood type, transfusion risk, and other traits. —Medea Giordano, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024

This includes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic sclerosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, or vasculitis. —Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Sandoval, now, is the only connective tissue left in the clubhouse to Giants’ championship era. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2024

But Facebook is also the connective tissue between more than 3 billion people around the world. —Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024

There was no connective tissue to orient you inside, but there weren’t even any hints about these dreamscapes from the outside. —Sara Gaynes Levy, Vogue, 19 Jan. 2024

The aforementioned vitamin C content, when taken in appropriate doses, offers a slew of potential benefits including lessening common cold symptoms, promoting heart health and making collagen, an essential protein in making the body's connective tissue, research has shown. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

The point cut has more fat and more connective tissue. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

connective tissue

noun

: a tissue (as bone, cartilage, or tendon) that forms a supporting framework for the body or its parts and has protein fibers between the cells composing it

Medical Definition

connective tissue

noun

con·​nec·​tive tissue kə-ˌnek-tiv- 

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (as cartilage and bone)