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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.
"He tore a tendon in his ankle during the match."

How to use tendon

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

tendons plural

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Test yourself on “tendon” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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").

Origin: Ancient Greek

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial