cartilaginous
/,kɑ:ti'lædʤinəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Composed of or resembling cartilage: Describes tissue that is firm, flexible, and white, found in joints and other body structures.
- Difficult to chew: Describes food that is tough and rubbery in texture, similar to cartilage.
Usage
The adjective "cartilaginous" is primarily used in biological and anatomical contexts to describe structures made of cartilage. It can also be used descriptively for food textures. - It modifies nouns directly (e.g., cartilaginous tissue, cartilaginous fish). - It can be used predicatively after linking verbs like "is" or "seems" (e.g., The material is cartilaginous).
Examples
- Biological/Anatomical Context:
- Sharks and rays are examples of cartilaginous fish, as their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone.
- The surgeon repaired the cartilaginous damage in the athlete's knee.
- Descriptive Context (Texture):
- The chicken gristle was unpleasantly cartilaginous and difficult to eat.
Advanced Usage
- "Cartilaginous joint": In anatomy, a type of joint where the bones are connected entirely by cartilage, allowing for slight movement (e.g., the joints between vertebrae).
- The pubic symphysis is a cartilaginous joint.
Variants and Related Words
- Cartilage (noun): The firm, flexible connective tissue itself.
- The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee.
- Chondro- (prefix): A prefix used in scientific terms relating to cartilage (e.g., : a cartilage cell).
Synonyms
- Gristly: Having a tough, rubbery texture similar to cartilage (often used for food).
- Rubbery: Resembling the texture of rubber; tough and elastic.
Antonyms
- Bony: Made of or resembling bone.
- Tender: Easy to cut or chew; soft.
Adjective
- difficult to chew
- of or relating to cartilage