connective tissue

noun

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (such as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (such as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (such as cartilage and bone)

Examples of connective tissue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Monster at the End of This Book meta angle begins with promise but sputters over the next 90 minutes despite the clear connective tissue of a Frankenstein’s-monster motif, only to return at the end without sufficient transformative addition. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025

Bialik played Larroquette’s daughter in three episodes of his eponymous sitcom, and Bialik reveals the connective tissue that led to her recurring role all those years ago. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 13 Jan. 2025

The connective tissue here for Hammer is seemingly the music video’s director, Jerry Brunskill, a friend of Hammer’s who also produces his HammerTime podcast. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024

Tendinitis Tendinitis of the hip is inflammation of tendons—the connective tissues that connect muscles to bones—in and around the hip. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

connective tissue

noun

: a tissue (as bone, cartilage, or tendon) that forms a supporting framework for the body or its parts and has protein fibers between the cells composing it

Medical Definition

connective tissue

noun

con·​nec·​tive tissue kə-ˌnek-tiv- 

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (as cartilage and bone)