noun
cartilage
KAH-tihl-ihj
noun
1
A tough, flexible connective tissue found in joints, the ear, nose, and other parts of the body.
"A torn cartilage in his knee kept him out of the match."
"Cartilage cushions the ends of bones where they meet at a joint."
How to Use Cartilage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe flexible tissue in joints and body parts like the ear and nose — softer than bone but tougher than muscle.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
torn cartilage
cartilage damage
ear cartilage
Word Forms
cartilages plural
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A torn _____ in his knee kept him out of the match.
Etymology
Borrowed from French cartilage, from Latin cartilago. It largely replaced the older native English word "gristle," which is still used informally for cartilage in meat.