callus
/'kæləs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- (Botany) An isolated thickening of tissue, especially a stiff protuberance on the lip of an orchid: In plants, a "callus" is a mass of cells that forms over a wound or cut, often appearing as a hard, protective bump.
- (Medicine) Bony tissue formed during the healing of a fractured bone: This is the new bone that grows around the ends of broken bones, temporarily stabilizing them during the healing process.
- (Dermatology) An area of skin that is thick or hard from continual pressure or friction (as the sole of the foot): A "callus" is a patch of toughened, thickened skin that develops to protect an area from repeated rubbing or pressure.
Verb:
- To form a callus or calluses: To develop a hardened area of skin or tissue.
- To cause a callus to form on: To make a part of the body develop a hardened area.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The gardener noticed a callus forming on the stem where it had been pruned.
- An X-ray showed the callus around the fracture, indicating it was healing well.
- Guitar players often develop calluses on their fingertips from pressing the strings.
Verb:
- His hands began to callus after weeks of manual labor.
- Years of playing tennis had callused her palm.
Advanced Usage
- "Form a callus": This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe becoming emotionally hardened or less sensitive due to repeated difficult experiences.
- Working in customer service for so long caused her to form a callus against rude comments.
Variants and Related Words
- Calloused (adjective): Having calluses; hardened.
- He had calloused hands from years of carpentry.
- Callosity (noun): A technical or medical synonym for a callus, especially on the skin.
Synonyms
- Noun (Skin): Corn (a specific type of small, painful callus), hardening, thickening.
- Noun (Bone): Bony union, healing tissue.
- Verb: Harden, toughen.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
(Note: "Callus" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The actions are typically described with the verb alone or with prepositions like "on" or "over.")
Related Idioms
(Note: There are no common idioms that use the word "callus" itself. The metaphorical use mentioned in "Advanced Usage" is a conceptual extension rather than a fixed idiom.)
Noun
- (botany) an isolated thickening of tissue, especially a stiff protuberance on the lip of an orchid
- bony tissue formed during the healing of a fractured bone
- an area of skin that is thick or hard from continual pressure or friction (as the sole of the foot)
Verb
- form a callus or calluses
- His foot callused
- cause a callus to form on
- The long march had callused his feet