meniscus

noun

me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈni-skəs 

plural menisci mə-ˈni-ˌskī 

-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

Research has found that nearly 50% of young adults who sustain knee injuries in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscus will develop OA within 10–20 years.2 Obesity: Developing obesity in adolescence can place stress on your joints, increasing the risk of OA in the ankles and knees. —Cory Martin, Health, 23 Aug. 2023

Newton battled through a meniscus problem during his senior year of high school. —Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Aug. 2023

In the 2021 preseason finale, Dobbins tore his ACL, LCL, meniscus and hamstring. —Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2023

But his fourth season lasted only 11 games because of a meniscus tear, and he was traded to the Utah Jazz before the 2022-23 campaign. —Mark Inabinett | [e-mail], al, 22 June 2023

The 25-year-old Time Lord has had two meniscus surgeries in the last 13 months, missed seven playoff games last spring, and played in only 35 of 82 games this season, never on back-to-back nights. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Apr. 2023

The Colts waived Scott — a source told IndyStar the rookie suffered a meniscus tear — with an injury settlement, leaving open the possibility of a return for the rookie this season, either in Indianapolis or another NFL city. —The Indianapolis Star, 15 Aug. 2023

She was limited to playing only 17 games her sophomore year after having surgery to repair a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear in December 2021. —Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023

But after joining Miami in a March trade, Ramsey sustained a meniscus injury in training camp that might keep him sidelined until December. —Mark Inabinett | [e-mail], al, 6 Aug. 2023

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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

Kids Definition

meniscus

noun

me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈnis-kəs 

plural menisci -ˈnis-ˌ(k)ī 

-ˌkē

also meniscuses

: the curved upper surface of a liquid column

Medical Definition

meniscus

noun

me·​nis·​cus mə-ˈnis-kəs 

plural menisci -ˈnis-ˌ(k)ī, -ˌkē  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