Main Entry: car·ti·lage

Pronunciation: \ˈkärt-^əl-ij, ˈkärt-lij\

Function: noun

1 : a usually translucent somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (as some joints, respiratory passages, and the external ear) is replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates
2 : a part or structure composed of cartilage