meniscus

[mi-nis-kuhs]

noun

plural

menisci, meniscuses 

1. a crescent or a crescent-shaped body.

2. the convex or concave upper surface of a column of liquid, the curvature of which is caused by surface tension.

3. Optics.,  a lens with a crescent-shaped section; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens.

4. Anatomy.,  a disk of cartilage between the articulating ends of the bones in a joint.

meniscus

/ mɪˈnɪskəs /

noun

1. the curved upper surface of a liquid standing in a tube, produced by the surface tension

2. a crescent or half-moon-shaped body or design

3. a crescent-shaped fibrous cartilage between the bones at certain joints, esp at the knee

4. a crescent-shaped lens; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens

meniscus

plural

menisci 

1. A lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other.

2. 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.

3. See also surface tension

4. 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

• meniscoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meniscus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of meniscus¹

C17: from New Latin, from Greek mēniskos crescent, diminutive of mēnē moon

Related Words

• arc 
• arch 
• contour 
• loop 
• trajectory