tissue
Americannoun
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tissues
plural
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Biology. an aggregate of similar cells and cell products forming a definite kind of structural material with a specific function, in a multicellular organism.
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any of several kinds of soft gauzy papers used for various purposes.
cleansing tissue; toilet tissue.
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an interwoven or interconnected series or mass.
a tissue of falsehoods.
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a piece of thin writing paper on which carbon copies are made.
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a woven fabric, especially one of light or gauzy texture, originally woven with gold or silver.
a blouse of a delicate tissue.
verb (used with object)
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to remove (a cosmetic or cream) with a facial tissue (often followed byoff ).
Tissue all cosmetics off the face before going to bed.
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to weave, especially with threads of gold and silver.
noun
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a part of an organism consisting of a large number of cells having a similar structure and function
connective tissue
nerve tissue
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a thin piece of soft absorbent paper, usually of two or more layers, used as a disposable handkerchief, towel, etc
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See tissue paper
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an interwoven series
a tissue of lies
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a woven cloth, esp of a light gauzy nature, originally interwoven with threads of gold or silver
verb
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rare to weave into tissue
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to decorate or clothe with tissue or tissue paper
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of tissue
1325–75; Middle English tissew, variant of tissu < Middle French, Old French, noun use of past participle of tistre to weave < Latin texere
Explanation
Tissue is part of the body of a living thing that is made of similar cells, like the cardiac tissue of your heart. A tissue is also a soft, thin piece of paper used for wiping noses and tear drops. The noun tissue comes from the Old French word tissu, meaning “a ribbon, or belt of woven material.” In fact, as a verb, tissue means "weave fabric strands." Today, we think of tissues as the disposable paper for blowing our noses or packing presents. A different kind of tissue is found in the body — the groups of cells that have the same job, like scar tissue that protects a wound as it heals.
Vocabulary lists containing tissue
Cell Biology - Middle School
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Cell Biology - High School
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Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
In the presence of APOE4, however, the pericytes changed into myofibroblast-like cells that produce scar tissue.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
At the same time, cerebrospinal fluid and ventricular volumes increased, as did white matter hyperintensities, which appear as bright spots on MRI scans and can indicate tissue damage.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Another advantage of the miBrain system is that researchers can preserve the tissue for future experiments.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
It plays a major role in vision by bending incoming light so it can be focused onto the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
The tissue paper crinkles as I carry it back to the table, placing it in front of Uncle Phil.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
"They'll coax excess lymph fluid from your swollen tissues toward your lymph nodes, where the lymph can reabsorb," he says - adding lymph nodes are found in the armpits, neck and groin.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Dr Xand van Tulleken tells Morning Live that the lymphatic system helps remove excess fluid from tissues and supports the immune system.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
“You’ve got to break the tissues down so it becomes fork-tender,” says Norm Langer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
In .35% of patients, the injections can cause skin necrosis, the death of cells and body tissues, symptoms of which include pain, discoloration and loss of sensitivity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
A box of tissues is conveniently placed next to the plush couch where Ms. Finn instructs me to “sit, relax, make yourself at home.”
From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass
So saying, he number’d carefully the gold, The vases, tripods bright, and tissued robes, 260 But nothing miss’d of all.
From The Odyssey of Homer by William Cowper
In rough magnificence array'd, When ancient Chivalry display'd The pomp of her heroic games, And crested chiefs and tissued dames Assembled, at the clarion's call, In some proud castle's high arch'd hall.
From Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
The thoughts we think may be lasting, too, Though not inscribed on the azure blue; On the tissued walls of the soul's great dome, May be found those thoughts ne'er more to roam.
From Gleams of Sunshine Optimistic Poems by Joseph Horatio Chant
Yea, everything ran with sunshine, as we are full of blood, and plants are tissued from green-gold, glistening sap.
From The Trespasser by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Adorn'd with nature's brightest dyes, Whose gadding wing, and tissued plume, Allure so many wandering eyes.
From Olive Leaves Or, Sketches of Character by L. H. (Lydia Howard) Sigourney
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.
