cartilage

noun

car·​ti·​lage ˈkär-tə-lij 

ˈkärt-lij

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

Modern bioprinters, such as one developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, can produce multiple types of structures that mimic a wide range of tissues, from soft skin to firmer cartilage and bone. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025

But your eyes aren’t sunken beneath scar tissue and your ears haven’t swollen into dumplings of cartilage. —Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

About 33 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis, which involves the breakdown of cartilage in a joint. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025

Means to repair or regrow cartilage artificially, however, could slow or even halt this process, and there are already some products on the market that function in this capacity. —New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin cartilagin-, cartilago

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cartilage

• corniculate cartilage
• hyaline cartilage

Kids Definition

cartilage

noun

car·​ti·​lage ˈkärt-ᵊl-ij 

ˈkärt-lij

1

: an elastic tissue which composes most of the skeleton of the vertebrate embryo and much of which is changed to bone later in life

2

: a part or structure composed of cartilage

Medical Definition

cartilage

noun

car·​ti·​lage ˈkärt-ᵊl-ij, ˈkärt-lij 

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