2 definitions found From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]: cartilage noun: tough elastic tissue; mostly converted to bone in adults [syn: {gristle}] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]: Cartilage \Car"ti*lage\, noun [L. cartilago; cf. F. cartilage.] (Anat.) A translucent, elastic tissue; gristle. Note: Cartilage contains no vessels, and consists of a homogeneous, intercellular matrix, in which there are numerous minute cavities, or capsules, containing protoplasmic cells, the cartilage corpuscul. See Illust under {Duplication}. {Articular cartilage}, cartilage that lines the joints. {Cartilage bone} (Anat.), any bone formed by the ossification of cartilage. {Costal cartilage}, cartilage joining a rib with he sternum. See Illust. of {Thorax}.

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