Definition of 'callus'

Word Frequency

callus

(kæləs )

Word forms: plural calluses

countable noun

A callus is an unwanted area of thick skin, usually on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, which has been caused by something rubbing against it.

Word Frequency

callus in British

(ˈkæləs )

nounWord forms: plural -luses

1. Also called: callosity

an area of skin that is hard or thick, esp on the palm of the hand or sole of the foot, as from continual friction or pressure

an area of bony tissue formed during the healing of a fractured bone

3. botany

a mass of hard protective tissue produced in woody plants at the site of an injury

an accumulation of callose in the sieve tubes

4. biotechnology

a mass of undifferentiated cells produced as the first stage in tissue culture

verb

to produce or cause to produce a callus

Word origin of 'callus'

C16: from Latin, variant of callum hardened skin

Word Frequency

callus in American

(ˈkæləs ; kalˈəs)

nounWord forms: plural ˈcalluses

a hardened, thickened place on the skin

the hard substance that forms at the break in a fractured bone and serves to reunite the parts

a disorganized mass of cells that develops over cuts or wounds on plants, as at the ends of stem or leaf cuttings

verb intransitive, verb transitive

to develop or cause to develop a callus

Word origin of 'callus'

L, var. of callum, hard skin

Example sentences containing 'callus'

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Then he looked at Archer's measuring eyes and remembered the ridges of callus on the side of his hand. Elizabeth Lowell PEARL COVE (2001)

Trends of 'callus'

Used Occasionally. callus is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'callus'

Source

Definition of callus from the Collins English Dictionary

The dash ( – )

A spaced dash(i.e. with a single space before and after it) is used: at the beginning and end of a comment that interrupts the flow of a sentence. Now children – Kenneth, stop that immediately! –...