cartilaginous
adjective
car·ti·lag·i·nous
ˌkär-tə-ˈla-jə-nəs 
: composed of, relating to, or resembling cartilage
The external nose has a cartilaginous framework.
Examples of cartilaginous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lack of Megalodon fossils According to the Smithsonian, sharks are cartilaginous, meaning their skeleton is entirely made up of cartilage.
—
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
Experts principally work from teeth and vertebrae from the shark to estimate its size and proportions, which is common for prehistoric sharks, as their cartilaginous skeletons often decayed before fossilization.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2024
Sharks are largely cartilaginous, a body structure that often doesn’t survive fossilization.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 6 July 2023
Sharks are considered to be a long-bodied marine fish with a cartilaginous skeleton and a prominent dorsal fin.
—Cortney Moore, Fox News, 13 Aug. 2023
Amphiarthroses are cartilaginous joints, two or more bones held so tightly together that only limited movement can take place, such as spinal vertebrae.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2023
Whale sharks, which are cartilaginous, weigh about 11 tons, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
—Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2022
Also unlike mammals, the upper esophagus is not circled by cartilaginous rings, which explains how birds swallow whole, live fish with ease.
—Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2015
Frogs that did not receive the progesterone treatment developed cartilaginous spikes at the amputation site, whereas ones that wore the hormone delivering bioreactor for one day regrew a paddle-shaped appendage.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2018
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
Experts principally work from teeth and vertebrae from the shark to estimate its size and proportions, which is common for prehistoric sharks, as their cartilaginous skeletons often decayed before fossilization.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2024
Sharks are largely cartilaginous, a body structure that often doesn’t survive fossilization.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 6 July 2023
Sharks are considered to be a long-bodied marine fish with a cartilaginous skeleton and a prominent dorsal fin.
—Cortney Moore, Fox News, 13 Aug. 2023
Amphiarthroses are cartilaginous joints, two or more bones held so tightly together that only limited movement can take place, such as spinal vertebrae.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2023
Whale sharks, which are cartilaginous, weigh about 11 tons, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
—Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2022
Also unlike mammals, the upper esophagus is not circled by cartilaginous rings, which explains how birds swallow whole, live fish with ease.
—Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2015
Frogs that did not receive the progesterone treatment developed cartilaginous spikes at the amputation site, whereas ones that wore the hormone delivering bioreactor for one day regrew a paddle-shaped appendage.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cartilaginous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cartilaginous
Cite this Entry
“Cartilaginous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartilaginous. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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cartilaginous
adjective
car·ti·lag·i·nous
ˌkärt-ᵊl-ˈaj-ə-nəs
: of, relating to, or resembling cartilage
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