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

And, according to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the excessive pressure a wrist wrest puts on the delicate tendons under the wrists can cause carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis (inflammation of the sheath surrounding tendons). —Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2025

Surgery: If injections, OTC medications, and other methods aren't yielding results, surgery to repair the affected tendon or ligament is an option. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Feb. 2025

Dean emerged as a defensive leader this season, racking up 128 tackles, but did play in the Super Bowl after tearing a patellar tendon during the wild-card round. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2025

The clubs are spring-like structures that store energy in elastic form and are held in place by latch-like tendons. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

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