tissue

noun

tis·sue ˈti-(ˌ)shü

chiefly British ˈtis-(ˌ)yü

Synonyms of tissue next

: a piece of soft absorbent tissue paper used especially as a handkerchief or for removing cosmetics

: an aggregate of cells usually of a particular kind together with their intercellular substance that form one of the structural materials of a plant or an animal

: a fine lightweight often sheer fabric

: mesh, network, web

a tissue of lies

tissuey

ˈti-shə-wē

adjective

Examples of tissue in a Sentence

She wiped her nose with a tissue. a sample of brain tissue The drug can damage the body's tissues. a box wrapped in tissue

Recent Examples on the Web This blockage can restrict blood flow to organs, resulting in tissue necrosis. —

Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023 Seven of the rats had worms in their hearts, pulmonary arteries and brain tissues. —

Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Sep. 2023 These unknown creatures burrowed into this trilobite’s carcass and targeted its soft tissue, but avoided its gut. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Sep. 2023 Stage 2b lung cancer indicates that the tumor is either less than 3 centimeters (1¼ inch) in diameter and has spread to nearby lymph nodes, or that the tumor is between 3 and 5 centimeters or may have spread into the airways or surrounding tissues as well as nearby lymph nodes. —

Sanja Jelic, Verywell Health, 22 Sep. 2023 In more severe cases, a doctor might recommend surgery to remove throat tissue. —

Korin Miller, SELF, 21 Sep. 2023 If your child gets a nosebleed, follow these steps: Have your kid tilt their head forward slightly. Use a towel or a wad of tissue to pinch their nose tightly just below the nasal bone. Hold this position for 10 to 15 minutes to stop the bleeding. —

Stacey Colino, Parents, 20 Sep. 2023 Working with chicken embryos, his research team identified the key players that are rhythmically expressed during the formation of each vertebral segment in embryonic tissue. —

Quanta Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023 The heat generated by a massage chair can help reach some of those deeper tissues that can't be touched by the massage mechanisms themselves. —

Lauren Wellbank, Woman's Day, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tissue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tysshewe, tyssew, a rich fabric, from Anglo-French tissue, from past participle of tistre to weave, from Latin texere — more at technical

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler

The first known use of tissue was in 1563

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tissue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tissue. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

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Kids Definition

tissue

noun

tis·sue ˈtish-ü

: a fine lightweight fabric

: a piece of soft absorbent paper

: a mass or layer of cells usually of one kind together with the uniting or enclosing substance around and between them that form the basic structural materials of a plant or an animal compare connective tissue

Medical Definition

tissue

noun

tis·sue

ˈtish-(ˌ)ü, ˈtish-ə(-w), chiefly British ˈtis-(ˌ)yü

: an aggregate of cells usually of a particular kind together with their intercellular substance that form one of the structural materials of a plant or an animal and that in animals include connective tissue, epithelium, muscle tissue, and nerve tissue