meniscus
Americannoun
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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
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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
Etymology
Origin of meniscus
1685–95; < New Latin < Greek mēnískos crescent, diminutive of mḗnē moon
Explanation
The next time you pour some fluid into a tube, look at it from the side. You will see the liquid has a slight curve, either up or down. This curved surface, created by air pressure, is called a meniscus. The Greeks had a word for the lunar crescent, mēniskos, which itself came from the word for the moon, mḗnē. In the late 17th Century, the word meniscus was given to similarly-curved lenses. Then in 1812, the curved surfaces of liquid were referred to by this word as well. Later, the name was also applied to a crescent-shaped cartilage at the knee, between the tibia and the femur. These small, semi-lunar bits are important for reducing friction during leg movement.
Vocabulary lists containing meniscus
Pelé
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Chemistry - High School
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Chemistry - Middle School
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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.
It soon emerged that he had a torn meniscus that threatened his chances of reaching the Milan Cortina Games.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
The surgery has long been based on the idea that knee pain, especially on the inner side, is caused by a meniscus tear that can be fixed surgically.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
"But let's see how they respond, with no cartilage and no meniscus..."
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026
After the season, he underwent an operation to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee.
From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026
The names of the various shapes are as follows:—No. 1, plano-convex; No. 2, plano-concave; No. 3, double convex; No. 4, double concave; No. 5, meniscus; No. 6, concavo-convex.
From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald
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.
