cartilage
noun
car·ti·lage
ˈkär-tə-lij 
ˈkärt-lij
1
: a usually translucent (see translucent sense 1) somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (such as some joints, respiratory passages, and the external ear) is replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates
2
: a part or structure composed of cartilage
Examples of cartilage in a Sentence
She fell and damaged some cartilage in her knee.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shortly after her final bow at ABT, Copeland underwent hip surgery, telling NPR that after complaining about intense pain, her doctors found bone spurs in her left hip, along with a labral tear and a significant amount of cartilage loss.
—
Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Last summer, Brossoit and doctors, after examining his right hip, found the root cause of the knee pain — a cam lesion on the head of his femur that was causing issues with cartilage inside the joint.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
He was added to the England squad but tore his knee cartilage in the build-up and never played for England again.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Longevity is also one of only three facilities in the country to offer Limfa Therapy technology for bone and cartilage healing, treating issues like joint pain, arthritis and osteoporosis.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartilage
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Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Last summer, Brossoit and doctors, after examining his right hip, found the root cause of the knee pain — a cam lesion on the head of his femur that was causing issues with cartilage inside the joint.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
He was added to the England squad but tore his knee cartilage in the build-up and never played for England again.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Longevity is also one of only three facilities in the country to offer Limfa Therapy technology for bone and cartilage healing, treating issues like joint pain, arthritis and osteoporosis.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartilage
Cite this Entry
“Cartilage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartilage. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cartilage
noun
car·ti·lage
ˈkärt-ᵊl-ij
ˈkärt-lij
1
: an elastic tissue which composes most of the skeleton of the vertebrate embryo and much of which is changed to bone later in life
2
: a part or structure composed of cartilage
Medical Definition
cartilage
noun
car·ti·lage
ˈkärt-ᵊl-ij, ˈkärt-lij
1
: a usually translucent somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (as some joints, respiratory passages, and the external ear) is replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates
2
: a part or structure composed of cartilage
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