meniscus

noun

me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈni-skəs How to pronounce meniscus (audio)
plural menisci mə-ˈni-ˌskī How to pronounce meniscus (audio)
-ˌskē,
-ˌsī
also meniscuses
1
: a crescent or crescent-shaped body
2
: a concavo-convex lens
3
: the curved upper surface of a column of liquid
4
: a fibrous cartilage within a joint especially of the knee

Examples of meniscus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The comeback win that Johnson helped orchestrate was fairly minor compared to a five-month recovery from a torn meniscus to his right knee suffered last spring. Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025 Edgecombe out of Baylor and a healthy Jared McCain, who had been on track for an All-Rookie season before tearing his own meniscus in his left knee in December, and watching his season end after just 23 bouts. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025 The key will be how well McCarthy can adapt to the NFL after missing his rookie season due to a torn meniscus. Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 The researchers found that the shape of the meniscus can either increase or reduce energy passing through a barrier. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meniscus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek mēniskos, from diminutive of mēnē moon, crescent — more at moon

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meniscus was in 1685

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meniscus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meniscus. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

meniscus

noun
me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈnis-kəs How to pronounce meniscus (audio)
plural menisci -ˈnis-ˌ(k)ī How to pronounce meniscus (audio)
-ˌkē
also meniscuses
: the curved upper surface of a liquid column

Medical Definition

meniscus

noun
me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈnis-kəs How to pronounce meniscus (audio)
plural menisci -ˈnis-ˌ(k)ī, -ˌkē How to pronounce meniscus (audio) also meniscuses
1
: a crescent or crescent-shaped body
2
: a fibrous cartilage within a joint:
a
: either of two crescent-shaped lamellae of fibrocartilage that border and partly cover the articulating surfaces of the tibia and femur at the knee : semilunar cartilage:
(1)
: one mostly between the lateral condyles of the tibia and femur

called also external semilunar fibrocartilage, lateral meniscus, lateral semilunar cartilage

(2)
: one mostly between the medial condyles of the tibia and femur

called also internal semilunar fibrocartilage, medial meniscus, medial semilunar cartilage

b
: a thin oval ligament of the temporomandibular joint that is situated between the condyle of the mandible and the mandibular fossa and separates the joint into two cavities
3
: a concavo-convex lens
4
: the curved upper surface of a liquid column that is concave when the containing walls are wetted by the liquid and convex when not

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