Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. (botany) an isolated thickening of tissue, especially a stiff protuberance on the lip of an orchid
2. bony tissue formed during the healing of a fractured bone
3. an area of skin that is thick or hard from continual pressure or friction (as the sole of the foot)

Verb

1. form a callus or calluses
   • His foot callused
2. cause a callus to form on
   • The long march had callused his feet