cartilage

American  

[kahr-tl-ij, kahrt-lij] / ˈkɑr tl ɪdʒ, ˈkɑrt lɪdʒ /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• cartilages
  plural

1. a firm, elastic, flexible type of connective tissue of a translucent whitish or yellowish color; gristle.

2. a part or structure composed of cartilage.

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cartilage British  

/ ˌkɑːtɪˈlædʒɪnəs, ˈkɑːtɪlɪdʒ, ˈkɑːtlɪdʒ /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: gristle.  a tough elastic tissue composing most of the embryonic skeleton of vertebrates. In the adults of higher vertebrates it is mostly converted into bone, remaining only on the articulating ends of bones, in the thorax, trachea, nose, and ears

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cartilage Scientific  

/ kär′tl-ĭj /

1. A strong, flexible connective tissue that is found in various parts of the body, including the joints, the outer ear, and the larynx. During the embryonic development of most vertebrates, the skeleton forms as cartilage before most of it hardens into bone. In cartilaginous fish, the mature fish retains a skeleton made of cartilage.

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cartilage Cultural  

1. A kind of tough but elastic connective tissue that can withstand considerable pressure. It makes up portions of the skeletal system, such as the linings of the joints, where it cushions against shock. Cartilage is also found in other body structures, such as the nose and external ear.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cartilaginous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cartilages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cartilage

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin cartilāgō gristle

Explanation

Cartilage is the strong but bendable tissue found in various parts of your body, such as the joints. Your outer ear is made of cartilage, which is why you can pull on and bend it. Whenever you run or jump, thank your cartilage. It's the strong but stretchy tissue that supports your joints so you don't just fall to the ground in a heap. Cartilage also gives your nose its shape. And when you have a cold, you can blow that nose forcefully without hurting it because your cartilage also supports your honker.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cartilage cartilages

Healthy cartilage allows the knee to move smoothly while helping protect the bones.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

So exercise helps gets this fluid, and the nutrients it contains, to cartilage.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

However, cartilage isn’t very good at repairing itself.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Those same mice were also able to eliminate sarcoma tumors, cancers that develop in connective tissues such as fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, bone, and cartilage.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026

Then they took cartilage from the amputated foot and sculpted it around the bone to make me a nose.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge

First, the tiny cartilages in the human larynx -- called the arytenoids -- that change the position of our vocal folds, have changed dramatically in whales.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 21, 2024

This ancient fish had separated, independent cartilages encasing the brain, rather than the solid bone or cartilage structure of jawless and jawed fish that followed it.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2023

Costal cartilages connect the anterior ends of the ribs to the sternum, with the exception of rib pairs 11 and 12, which are free-floating ribs.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilages, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

By roasting and broiling, the large quantity of nutriment contained in the bones and cartilages is lost, and what might easily be made tender has to be swallowed tough.

From Sheep, Swine, and Poultry Embracing the History and Varieties of Each; The Best Modes of Breeding; Their Feeding and Management; Together with etc. by Robert Jennings