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: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part (such as a bone) and transmits the force which the muscle exerts
Examples of tendon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tendon attaches the kneecap to the tibia and plays a crucial role in knee extension.
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Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
When the motor pulled the tendon in one direction, the beam compressed.
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Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
This tendon is made up of four muscles that allow active motion of the shoulder.
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Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Dell tore his Achilles tendon last season and will now have to wait until 2025 to return to the field.
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Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin tendōn-, tendō, probably derivative of Latin tendere "to extend outward, stretch" after Greek tenont-, ténōn "sinew, tendon," from ten-, variant stem of teínein "to stretch, extend" + -ont-, -ōn, deverbal noun suffix — more at tender entry 3
First Known Use
1541, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing tendon
Dictionary Entries Near tendon
Cite this Entry
“Tendon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tendon. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
tendon
noun
ten·don
ˈten-dən
: a tough cord or band of dense white connective tissue that links a muscle to some other part (as a bone)
Medical Definition
tendon
noun
ten·don
ˈten-dən
: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part, transmits the force which the muscle exerts, and is continuous with the connective-tissue epimysium and perimysium of the muscle and when inserted into a bone with the periosteum of the bone
More from Merriam-Webster on tendon
Nglish: Translation of tendon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tendon for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tendon
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