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 (such as a bone) and transmits the force which the muscle exerts

Examples of tendon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Widening feet and changes in foot size As women age, the ligaments and tendons in the feet may loosen, causing the feet to spread or widen. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 24 Oct. 2024

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 11 Oct. 2024

Expectations were high, but Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon only four snaps into his first game and spent the entire season on the sidelines. —Wayne Sterling, CNN, 8 Oct. 2024

Sleeping with bent wrists can lead to pain or numbness due to compression of nerves and tendons in the wrist and elbow. —Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024

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

• Achilles tendon
• tendon of Achilles

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