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What is a callus?

callus

 [kal-uhs]   Example Sentences Origin

cal·lus

   [kal-uhs] noun, plural -lus·es, verb, -lused, -lus·ing.
noun
1.
Pathology, Physiology.
a.
a hardened or thickened part of the skin; a callosity.
b.
a new growth of osseous matter at the ends of a fractured bone, serving to unite them.
2.
Also, callose. Botany.
a.
the tissue that forms over the wounds of plants, protecting the inner tissues and causing healing.
b.
a deposit on the perforated area of a sieve tube.
c.
(in grasses) a tough swelling at the base of a lemma or palea.
verb (used without object)
3.
to form a callus.

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Callus is one of our favorite verbs.
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to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
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verb (used with object)
4.
to produce a callus or calluses on: Heavy work callused his hands.
Origin:
1555–65; < Latin callus, masculine variant of callum; see callous

Related forms
un·cal·lused, adjective

Can be confused: callous, callus.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To callus
Example Sentences
  • Chen, holding callus tissue in the early stages of regenerating an iris.
  • Again unfortunately they are usually callus to their reinforced behavior and are perceived as successful.
  • Set the cuttings aside in a cool area for a few days to allow their stem ends to dry and callus over.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
callus (ˈkæləs)
 
—n , pl -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
2.  an area of bony tissue formed during the healing of a fractured bone
3.  botany
 a.  a mass of hard protective tissue produced in woody plants at the site of an injury
 b.  an accumulation of callose in the sieve tubes
4.  biotechnology a mass of undifferentiated cells produced as the first stage in tissue culture
 
—vb
5.  to produce or cause to produce a callus
 
[C16: from Latin, variant of callum hardened skin]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

callus
"hardened skin," 1560s, from L. callus, variant of callum "hard skin," related to callere "be hard," and cognate with Skt. kalika "bud," O.Ir. calath "hard," O.C.S. kaliti "to cool, harden."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

callus cal·lus (kāl'əs)
n. pl. cal·lus·es

  1. See callosity.

  2. The hard bony tissue that develops around the ends of a fractured bone during healing.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
callus   (kāl'əs)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. An area of the skin that has become hardened and thick, usually because of prolonged pressure or rubbing.

  2. The hard bony tissue that develops around the ends of a fractured bone during healing.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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