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

Clusters of Schistosoma haematobium eggs surrounded by immune cells in bladder tissue. —Trirupa Chakraborty, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump or mass that may feel firm or irregular, possibly fixed to surrounding tissue. —Cameron Sullivan, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024

The benefits of the Vera Scan In the same way that a CAT scan of the chest is very different from a chest X-ray, this CT scan of the breast provides far more information and insight about what’s going on in the breast tissue compared to a traditional mammogram. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 22 Oct. 2024

When water gets too warm, corals expel algae that live in their tissues and give them their vibrant colors. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 21 Oct. 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