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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web After missing her freshman season with a meniscus tear in her left knee, however, Comia felt some trepidation last year. Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2023 Chicago Bulls guard will miss entire NBA season with knee injury Ball hasn't played since Jan. 14, 2022 after suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee in a 42-point loss to the Golden State Warriors. Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2023 Johnson has been out since tearing his right meniscus Nov. 4 against Portland. Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 6 Jan. 2023 Williams, a second-team All-Defense choice last season, tore the meniscus in his left knee in March and was sidelined for about a month after surgery before returning midway through the opening-round playoff series against the Nets. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Nov. 2022 Both players returned for the 2020-21 season, but Lewis’ campaign was cut short by tears in the meniscus and ACL in the right knee in January 2021. Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 25 Feb. 2022 Cam Johnson is set to return for the Suns Thursday against Brooklyn after having not played since tearing his right meniscus on Nov. 4 against Portland. Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 18 Jan. 2023 Suns: Devin Booker (left groin strain), OUT; Jae Crowder (not with team), OUT; Cameron Johnson (right meniscus tear), OUT. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 4 Jan. 2023 Williams tore the meniscus in his left knee last March, underwent surgery, and returned midway through Boston’s opening-round playoff sweep of the Nets. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meniscus.' 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

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

Dictionary Entries Near meniscus

Cite this Entry

“Meniscus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meniscus. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

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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