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

Consider osteoarthritis, which afflicts roughly 33 million Americans by gradually wearing down cartilage in the joints. —Bryan T. Kelly, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

Six months to the day since having knee surgery for a torn ACL and both menisci cartilage, Ekwinski lined a one-hop smash that hit third base and caromed up and out into left field for a single in the Foxes’ 7-0 Southwest Prairie Conference win. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

Díaz on the mend after surgery Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz said he’s known about the loose bodies in his right elbow — five fragments of bone or cartilage that were removed in an operation Wednesday — since 2012, his first year of pro ball. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

The concerns are not about McCoy’s ACL, but rather a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin cartilagin-, cartilago

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cartilage

• corniculate cartilage
• hyaline cartilage

Kids 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