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Definition of "callus" []

  • A localized thickening and enlargement of the horny layer of the skin. Also called callosity. (noun)
  • The hard bony tissue that develops around the ends of a fractured bone during healing. (noun)
  • Botany Undifferentiated tissue that develops on or around an injured or cut plant surface or in tissue culture. (noun)
  • Botany The hardened, sometimes sharp base of the floret of certain grasses. (noun)
  • To form or develop such hardened tissue. See Usage Note at callous. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "callus" in a sentence
  • "The _spikes_ are solitary, 1 to 1-3/4 inch long exserted far above the small spathiform leaf-sheaths, peduncles are capillary and scaberulous, pedicels and joints are somewhat flattened, and have along both the narrow margins long, white, ascending hairs; callus is short with a ring of short white hairs."
  • "The _spikelets_ are oblong, 1/8 to 1/5 inch long, the callus is short, hairy with long brown hairs."
  • "The _sessile spikelet_ consists of four glumes and contains a complete flower and the callus is short and bearded with long hairs."