meniscus

[ mi-nis-kuh s ]
/ mɪˈnɪs kəs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR meniscus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural me·nis·ci [mi-nis-ahy, -nis-kahy, -kee] /mɪˈnɪs aɪ, -ˈnɪs kaɪ, -ki/, me·nis·cus·es.

a crescent or a crescent-shaped body.
the convex or concave upper surface of a column of liquid, the curvature of which is caused by surface tension.
Optics. a lens with a crescent-shaped section; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens.
Anatomy. a disk of cartilage between the articulating ends of the bones in a joint.

Origin of meniscus

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek mēnískos crescent, diminutive of mḗnē moon

OTHER WORDS FROM meniscus

me·nis·coid [mi-nis-koid] /mɪˈnɪs kɔɪd/, adjective

Words nearby meniscus

meniscectomy, meniscitis, meniscocyte, meniscocytosis, meniscofemoral ligament, meniscus, menispermaceous, menkes syndrome, menkure, menlo park, menninger

Words related to meniscus

glass, trajectory, arc, arch, contour, loop, spectacles, contact, optic, monocle, curve, bow, sickle, half-moon, swerve, sweep, hairpin, crook, bend, whorl

Example sentences from the Web for meniscus

British Dictionary definitions for meniscus

meniscus
/ (mɪˈnɪskəs) /

noun plural -nisci (-ˈnɪsaɪ) or -niscuses

the curved upper surface of a liquid standing in a tube, produced by the surface tension
a crescent or half-moon-shaped body or design
a crescent-shaped fibrous cartilage between the bones at certain joints, esp at the knee
a crescent-shaped lens; a concavo-convex or convexo-concave lens

Derived forms of meniscus

meniscoid, adjective

Word Origin for meniscus

C17: from New Latin, from Greek mēniskos crescent, diminutive of mēnē moon

Medical definitions for meniscus

meniscus
[ mə-nĭs′kəs ]

n. pl. me•nis•cus•es

A crescent-shaped body.
A concavo-convex lens.
The curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a container that is concave if the liquid wets the walls and convex if it does not.
A disk of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the ends of bones in a joint.

Other words from meniscus

me•nis′cal (-kəl) null null null adj.

Scientific definitions for meniscus

meniscus
[ mə-nĭs′kəs ]

Plural menisci (mə-nĭs′ī, -kī, -kē) meniscuses

A lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other.
The curved upper surface of a column of liquid in a container. The surface is concave if the molecules of the liquid are attracted to the container walls and convex if they are not. See also surface tension.
A piece of cartilage shaped like a crescent and located at the junction of two bones in a joint. The meniscus acts to absorb shock.