noun
Uncommon
tendon
TEHN-duhn
Tendon (noun) means a tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. Example: “He tore a tendon in his ankle during the match.”
noun
1
A tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone.
"I hear a wrenching sound of tendons stretching and testing their anchors on the bone."
— Ian McEwan, Nutshell (2016)
"He tore a tendon in his ankle during the match."
How to use tendon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe strong, rope-like tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
Common mistake
Don't mix up with a ligament, which connects bone to bone, not muscle to bone.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
torn tendon
Achilles tendon
tendon injury
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Word forms
- Plural
- tendons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tore a _____ in his ankle during the match.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin tendo, from Ancient Greek tenon ("sinew"), later reshaped in spelling to resemble Latin tendere ("to stretch").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tendon
See all rhymes for tendon →Frequently asked questions
What does “tendon” mean?
The word “tendon” means a tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. In plain terms, the strong, rope-like tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
How do you pronounce “tendon”?
“Tendon” is pronounced TEHN-duhn (/ˈtɛn.dən/ in IPA).
How do you use “tendon” in a sentence?
Here is “tendon” used in a sentence: “He tore a tendon in his ankle during the match.”
What part of speech is “tendon”?
“Tendon” is a noun.
Where does the word “tendon” come from?
The word “tendon” comes from Ancient Greek. From Medieval Latin tendo, from Ancient Greek tenon ("sinew"), later reshaped in spelling to resemble Latin tendere ("to stretch").
Is “tendon” a common word?
“Tendon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
