1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin or bark
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in healing
3
: soft tissue that forms over a wounded or cut plant surface
callused; callusing; calluses
: to form callus
: to cause callus to form on
Examples of callus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Too little results in no callus; too much prevents the bone from knitting back together.
—Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
Move the plate to a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight for a few days so the leaves can callus over.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callus
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Noun
Now, unfortunately, he’s gotten to a place emotionally, spiritually, physically and skills-wise where he’s had to grow some calluses.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Too little results in no callus; too much prevents the bone from knitting back together.
—Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Place the succulent stem on a plate for a few days to allow the cut end to callus over, and then plant the cut stem in a pot filled with a moist potting mix designed for cacti and succulents.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
Move the plate to a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight for a few days so the leaves can callus over.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callus
Cite this Entry
“Callus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/callus. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
callus
1 of 2 noun
cal·lus
ˈkal-əs 
plural calluses
1
: a hard thickened area on skin or bark
2
: a mass of tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is changed into bone in the healing of the break
3
: tissue that forms over an injured plant surface
callus
2 of 2 verb
: to form callus
Medical Definition
callus
noun
cal·lus
ˈkal-əs
1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in the healing of the break
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