tissue

noun

tis·​sue ˈti-(ˌ)shü 

 chiefly British  ˈtis-(ˌ)yü

1

: a piece of soft absorbent tissue paper used especially as a handkerchief or for removing cosmetics

2

: an aggregate of cells usually of a particular kind together with their intercellular substance that form one of the structural materials of a plant or an animal

3

a

: a fine lightweight often sheer fabric

b

: mesh, network, web

a tissue of lies

tissuey

ˈti-shə-wē 

adjective

Examples of tissue in a Sentence

She wiped her nose with a tissue.

a sample of brain tissue

The drug can damage the body's tissues.

a box wrapped in tissue

Recent Examples on the Web

The most common site of mesothelioma is the pleura, the thin tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs. —Oliver Eng, Health, 31 Dec. 2024

Other factors that contributed to her death included a buildup of fatty tissue in the walls of her arteries, according to a news release at the time. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024

The findings were startling: on average, more than three-quarters of the tissue in infected placentas had been damaged, cutting off oxygen and nutrients essential for fetal survival. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024

Researchers have created a way to guide and control the development of stem cells into specific tissues and organs, opening the door to developing a means of one day tackling complex diseases like diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. —New Atlas, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tysshewe, tyssew, a rich fabric, from Anglo-French tissue, from past participle of tistre to weave, from Latin texere — more at technical

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing tissue

• adipose tissue
• bathroom tissue
• connective tissue
• granulation tissue
• permanent tissue
• scar tissue
• tissue culture
• tissue fluid
• tissue of lies
• tissue paper
• tissue plasminogen activator
• vascular tissue
• woven a tissue of lies

Kids Definition

tissue

noun

tis·​sue ˈtish-ü 

1

: a fine lightweight fabric

2

: a piece of soft absorbent paper

3

: a mass or layer of cells usually of one kind together with the uniting or enclosing substance around and between them that form the basic structural materials of a plant or an animal compare connective tissue

Medical Definition

tissue

noun

tis·​sue

ˈtish-(ˌ)ü, ˈtish-ə(-w), chiefly British ˈtis-(ˌ)yü

: an aggregate of cells usually of a particular kind together with their intercellular substance that form one of the structural materials of a plant or an animal and that in animals include connective tissue, epithelium, muscle tissue, and nerve tissue