cartilage

noun

car·ti·lage | \ ˈkär-tə-lij

, ˈkärt-lij \

Definition of cartilage

1 : a usually translucent (see translucent sense 1) somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (such 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

Examples of cartilage in a Sentence

She fell and damaged some cartilage in her knee.

Recent Examples on the Web Inflammation of where the ribs and breastbone meet the cartilage (costochondritis) is one common cause. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 14 Oct. 2021 The scientists extracted a piece of distal articular cartilage from the right femur of this specimen, decalcified it, and used different microscopy and chemical methods to analyze it. — David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021 Unlike most yakitori-inclusive spots in the Bay Area, Tori Man offers you plenty of off cuts: knee cap, cartilage, heart, gizzard, and skin bunched up on the skewer like a ribbon. — Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Aug. 2021 The update was prompted by new research published in the journal Current Biology that analyzed nearly 1,200 species of Chondrichthyes, a taxonomic class of fish with skeletons made mainly of cartilage, reports the Guardian's Karen McVeigh. — Ben Panko, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021 Many places don’t even serve them because they are strewn with bone and cartilage. — Ariel Cheung, chicagotribune.com, 4 Aug. 2021 Hearts and blood vessels ruptured from within after a sudden pressure change, but most of the organ damage was probably caused by shards of shattering bone and cartilage. — Rob Goodier, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2021 During the Great Depression, inventors fashioned the first penile implants out of rib cartilage and bone. — Matthew Hongoltz-hetling, The New Republic, 23 June 2021 The procedure was needed to fix an osteochondral defect, which is joint damage that involves both bone and cartilage. — BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cartilage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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cartiest

cartilage

cartilage glottis

Statistics for cartilage

Last Updated

21 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Cartilage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartilage. Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for cartilage

cartilage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cartilage

: a strong but flexible material found in some parts of the body (such as the nose, the outer ear, and some joints)

See the full definition for cartilage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cartilage

noun

car·ti·lage | \ ˈkär-tə-lij

Kids Definition of cartilage

: tough flexible tissue that makes up most of the skeleton of vertebrates during early development and except for in a few places in the body (as the nose or outer ear) is replaced by bone

cartilage

noun

car·ti·lage | \ ˈkärt-ᵊl-ij, ˈkärt-lij

Medical Definition of cartilage

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