tendon

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noun ten·don \ ˈten-dən \

Definition of tendon

:a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part (such as a bone) and transmits the force which the muscle exerts

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See tendon defined for kids

Recent Examples of tendon from the Web

In Westchester, there’s a choice of beef tendon chicharones or a doughnut garnished with smoked pigs head at The Cookery.

— kate krader, Bloomberg.com, "Americans Are Eating More Brains as Offal Edges Into the Mainstream," 23 Aug. 2017
My first thought, This guy definitely has short Achilles tendons and walks on his tippy toes, better swipe left.

— The Cut, "The Long Island Woman Who Finds American Men Boring," 13 Aug. 2017
Their open, festering wounds don’t heal for months and sometimes years, leaving bare bones and tendons that evoke disgust even among their closest relatives.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "When Wounds Won’t Heal, Therapies Spread — To The Tune Of $5 Billion," 3 Aug. 2017
Ciprofloxacin, previously a go-to for UTIs and sinus infections, has come under recent scrutiny for causing lasting damage tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and the central nervous system.

— maya wei-haas, Smithsonian, "This Is Why Taking Fish Medicine Is Truly a Bad Idea," 30 July 2017
Start with crispy tendon chips dusted with red curry spice.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
The disorder, which is also referred to as Stone Man Syndrome, has only been diagnosed several hundred times and sees muscle tissue and connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments gradually replaced by bone, which constrains movement.

— Fox News, "Boy with rare 'Stone Man' disorder won't let it stop baseball dreams," 18 July 2017
Gently rub your fingers up and down the inner elbow crease, where veins are closer to the surface and held in place by tendons and muscle.

— malia wollan, New York Times, "How to Draw Blood," 14 July 2017
For people in their 30s through 50s, the Achilles tendons, calf muscles and hamstrings tend to be the tightest muscles.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Fitness safety: Tips to avoid outdoor injuries," 12 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tendon

Medieval Latin tendon-, tendo, from Latin tendere to stretch — more at thin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1541

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Other Anatomy Terms

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TENDON Defined for English Language Learners

tendon

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noun

Definition of tendon for English Language Learners

: a tough piece of tissue in your body that connects a muscle to a bone

TENDON Defined for Kids

tendon

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noun ten·don \ ˈten-dən \

Definition of tendon for Students

:a band of tough white fiber connecting a muscle to another part (as a bone)

Word Root of tendon

The Latin word tendere, meaning to “stretch” or “to spread,” and its form tentus give us the roots tend, tent, and tens. Words from the Latin tendere have something to do with stretching or spreading. A tent is a temporary shelter made from stretched out fabric. To distend is to stretch outward and swell in all directions. To extend is to stretch out. A tendon is a cord that connects a muscle to another muscle or to a bone and that stretches allowing a joint to bend. Something tense is stretched tight.

Medical Dictionary

tendon

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noun ten·don \ ˈten-dən \

medical Definition of tendon

:a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part, transmits the force which the muscle exerts, and is continuous with the connective-tissue epimysium and perimysium of the muscle and when inserted into a bone with the periosteum of the bone