meniscus
Americannoun
plural
menisci, meniscuses-
a crescent or a crescent-shaped body.
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the convex or concave upper surface of a column of liquid, the curvature of which is caused by surface tension.
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Optics. a lens with a crescent-shaped section; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens.
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Anatomy. a disk of cartilage between the articulating ends of the bones in a joint.
noun
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the curved upper surface of a liquid standing in a tube, produced by the surface tension
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a crescent or half-moon-shaped body or design
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a crescent-shaped fibrous cartilage between the bones at certain joints, esp at the knee
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a crescent-shaped lens; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens
plural
menisci-
A lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other.
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The curved upper surface of a column of liquid in a container. The surface is concave if the molecules of the liquid are attracted to the container walls and convex if they are not.
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See also surface tension
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A piece of cartilage shaped like a crescent and located at the junction of two bones in a joint. The meniscus acts to absorb shock.
Other Word Forms
- meniscoid adjective
Etymology
Origin of meniscus
1685–95; < New Latin < Greek mēnískos crescent, diminutive of mḗnē moon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nine days ago, she suffered a torn ACL, a bone bruise and meniscus damage.
From Los Angeles Times
She added that she had also suffered bone bruising and meniscus damage from her fall in a race which was abandoned early due to awful conditions which caused two other crashes.
From Barron's
She says along with the ACL tear she also has bruising and meniscus damage.
From BBC
After the season, he underwent an operation to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee.
From Barron's
Molden spent camp rehabbing from injuries, including a broken fibula and torn meniscus.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
