cartilage

Everyday

1. Cartilage is a strong, bendy material in the body, softer than bone, found in the ears, the end of the nose and between bones in joints. tree →
2. A cartilage is a piece of this material, especially in the knee. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about the skeleton, cartilage covers the ends of bones at joints so they move smoothly without rubbing; babies' skeletons have more cartilage, which hardens into bone as they grow. Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. Phrases: torn cartilage, knee cartilage, cartilage in the ear.

Examples

• Feel your ear: it bends because it is made of cartilage. tree →
• Cartilage protects the ends of bones in your joints. tree →
• Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. tree →
• The footballer tore a cartilage in his knee. tree →
• The tip of your nose is cartilage. tree →
• A baby's bones have lots of cartilage that turns into bone. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable. Pronounced "KAR-ti-lij". Adjective: cartilaginous (sharks and rays are cartilaginous fish). Cartilage is not the same as a ligament (holds bones together) or a tendon (joins muscle to bone).