Achilles tendon

American  

Or Achilles' tendon

noun

Anatomy.

1. the tendon joining the calf muscles to the heel bone.

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Achilles tendon British  

noun

1. the fibrous cord that connects the muscles of the calf to the heelbone

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Achilles tendon Cultural  

1. A tendon connecting the heel bone with the calf muscle of the leg.

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In Greek legend, the hero Achilles could be wounded only in the heel.

Etymology

Origin of Achilles tendon

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Achilles tendon

Tight end George Kittle, who sustained a torn right Achilles tendon last season, is expected to play.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Ekitike made the biggest impact of the new signings until his season was cut short in April when he ruptured his Achilles tendon.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

He suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025 and underwent back surgery last October.

From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026

The star forward, who is rehabilitating from an Achilles tendon tear suffered in the playoffs last June, and has lately been practicing with the team, continues to sit out real action.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

In Holden's "Landmarks" we are told that the operation of dividing the Achilles tendon was first performed by an unfortunate upon himself, by means of a razor.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Walter L. (Walter Lytle) Pyle