cartilaginous

[ kahr-tl-aj-uh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. of or resembling cartilage.
2. having a skeleton composed either entirely or mainly of cartilage, as vertebrates of the class Chondrichthyes, which includes the sharks, rays, and skates.

Other Words From

• inter·carti·lagi·nous adjective
• postcar·ti·lagi·nous adjective
• precar·ti·lagi·nous adjective
• pseudo·carti·lagi·nous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartilaginous¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin cartilāginōsus, equivalent to cartilāgin- (stem of cartilāgō ) cartilage + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

With such robust evolutionary versatility, these cartilaginous fishes have survived not one, not two, but five mass extinctions in Earth's history.

From Salon

“The bullet track produced a 2 cm wide wound that extended down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear. There was initially significant bleeding, followed by marked swelling of the entire upper ear.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sutures, as in the skull, don’t move in adults, and cartilaginous joints, such as those that connect the ribs to the sternum, tend to have very limited mobility.

From Science Magazine

This study significantly expands the understanding of these ancient cartilaginous fish and provides further insights into a past marine ecosystem.

From Science Daily

The cartilaginous vertebral column, which is the main body axis, may have anatomical modifications to withstand the extreme bending during the tail-whipping behavior.

From Science Daily