Dictionary.com

meniscus

[ mi-nis-kuhs ]
/ mɪˈnɪs kəs /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for meniscus on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural me·nis·ci [mi-nis-ahy, -nis-kahy, -kee], /mɪˈnɪs aɪ, -ˈnɪs kaɪ, -ki/, me·nis·cus·es.
a crescent or a crescent-shaped body.
the convex or concave upper surface of a column of liquid, the curvature of which is caused by surface tension.
Optics. a lens with a crescent-shaped section; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens.
Anatomy. a disk of cartilage between the articulating ends of the bones in a joint.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of meniscus

1685–95; <New Latin <Greek mēnískos crescent, diminutive of mḗnē moon

OTHER WORDS FROM meniscus

me·nis·coid [mi-nis-koid], /mɪˈnɪs kɔɪd/, adjective

Words nearby meniscus

meningococcall, meningococcus, Menippe, meniscectomy, meniscocytosis, meniscus, menispermaceous, Menkure, Menlo Park, Menninger, Mennonite
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to meniscus

arc, arch, contour, loop, trajectory, glass, bow, curve, half-moon, sickle, ambit, bend, bight, camber, catenary, chord, circle, circuit, circumference, compass

How to use meniscus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for meniscus

meniscus
/ (mɪˈnɪskəs) /
noun plural -nisci (-ˈnɪsaɪ) or -niscuses
the curved upper surface of a liquid standing in a tube, produced by the surface tension
a crescent or half-moon-shaped body or design
a crescent-shaped fibrous cartilage between the bones at certain joints, esp at the knee
a crescent-shaped lens; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens

Derived forms of meniscus

meniscoid, adjective

Word Origin for meniscus

C17: from New Latin, from Greek mēniskos crescent, diminutive of mēnē moon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for meniscus

meniscus
[ mə-nĭs′kəs ]
Plural menisci (mə-nĭs′ī, -kī, -kē) meniscuses
A lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other.
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. See also surface tension.
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
FEEDBACK