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

Apart from the jaws and teeth, shark skeletons are mostly cartilage, so vertebrae are rare and important.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Doctors take a small sample of cartilage from a patient’s nose, use it to grow new cartilage in the lab, and then surgically implant it into damaged knee joints.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

At Columbia, scientists envision a future when they will use a patient’s own cells or donor cells to grow new bone and cartilage as a new form of total joint replacement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

A treatment that targets a protein linked to aging has restored lost knee cartilage in older mice and prevented arthritis from developing after serious joint injuries, according to a Stanford Medicine-led study.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026

Our waitress appears, long denim skirt, thick Icelandic sweater, tiny shells dangling from cartilage piercings.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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

This consists of mesenchyme, the embryonic tissue that will become the bones, cartilages, and connective tissues of the body.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

However, unlike at a cartilaginous joint, the articular cartilages of each bone are not continuous with each other.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Somewhat persistent pains in the cartilages of the left lower ribs.

From New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers by Anshutz, Edward Pollock