callus
1 of 2noun
cal·lus ˈka-ləs 
1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin or bark
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in healing
3
: soft tissue that forms over a wounded or cut plant surface
callus
2 of 2verb
callused; callusing; calluses
intransitive verb
: to form callus
transitive verb
: to cause callus to form on
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Jillian Ruffo, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Sep. 2022 After the callus has formed, place the cutting in a container with potting mix with the callused end slightly in the soil. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 The permanent callus on my middle finger, that one’s all mine, from gripping pencils. Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2022 In Teba Nagar, Shabana Khan’s husband Hakim Khan had been prescribed surgery by the district hospital to remove a painful callus on his foot. Supriya Sharma, Quartz, 15 Apr. 2022 Partial girdling of the stem interrupts the downward movement of carbohydrates and other compounds in the plant, which promotes the formation of callus tissue and roots at this point. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Mar. 2022 Parthasarathy recommends steering clear of metal foot files or callus removers – or anything sharper than a pumice stone. Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021 Cuts should be ¼ inch above a node to speed callus formation and our pruners and loppers must be sharp. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2021 This process, known as healing, helps form a callus, preventing rot. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020 Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 Allow for the leaf to callus over before planting, similar to using cuttings. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 If the patches are dry and callused, the fruits should store okay in your basement. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 26 Sep. 2019 That seems an obvious goal for a hitter, of course, but with a baseball mind callused by a few long seasons someone like Semien didn’t become stuck in his ways, but more than willing to fix his faults. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2019 Just as blisters are badges of honor for distance runners, callused fingers become a rite of passage for any climber. Jen Murphy, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2018 Kendall Jenner likes tiny fish chomping at her callused feet. Samantha Sasso, refinery29.com, 14 Mar. 2018 Over the years, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has left Lanier callused, frostbitten, broken and bruised. Tegan Hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Mar. 2018 See More
Noun
Try this electric callus remover, which comes with a variety of attachments to cater to different levels of roughness. Jillian Ruffo, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Sep. 2022 After the callus has formed, place the cutting in a container with potting mix with the callused end slightly in the soil. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 The permanent callus on my middle finger, that one’s all mine, from gripping pencils. Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2022 In Teba Nagar, Shabana Khan’s husband Hakim Khan had been prescribed surgery by the district hospital to remove a painful callus on his foot. Supriya Sharma, Quartz, 15 Apr. 2022 Partial girdling of the stem interrupts the downward movement of carbohydrates and other compounds in the plant, which promotes the formation of callus tissue and roots at this point. Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Mar. 2022 Parthasarathy recommends steering clear of metal foot files or callus removers – or anything sharper than a pumice stone. Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021 Cuts should be ¼ inch above a node to speed callus formation and our pruners and loppers must be sharp. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2021 This process, known as healing, helps form a callus, preventing rot. Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020 Verb
After cutting it, allow the cutting to callus over. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 Allow for the leaf to callus over before planting, similar to using cuttings. Evan Hecht, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 If the patches are dry and callused, the fruits should store okay in your basement. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 26 Sep. 2019 That seems an obvious goal for a hitter, of course, but with a baseball mind callused by a few long seasons someone like Semien didn’t become stuck in his ways, but more than willing to fix his faults. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2019 Just as blisters are badges of honor for distance runners, callused fingers become a rite of passage for any climber. Jen Murphy, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2018 Kendall Jenner likes tiny fish chomping at her callused feet. Samantha Sasso, refinery29.com, 14 Mar. 2018 Over the years, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has left Lanier callused, frostbitten, broken and bruised. Tegan Hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Latin
First Known Use
Noun
1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1824, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
callus
noun
cal·lus ˈka-ləs
plural calluses
: a hard thickened area on the skin and especially on the hands and feet
Medical Definition
callus
noun
cal·lus ˈkal-əs
1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in the healing of the break
callus
verb
as in to indurate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- indurate
- gel
- cake
- encrust
- concrete
- gelatinize
- jelly
- freeze
- clot
- incrust
- calcify
- harden
- ossify
- thicken
- solidify
- jell
- congeal
- coagulate
- stiffen
- petrify
- rigidify
- gelate
- crystallize
- set
- anneal
- temper
- firm (up)
- crystalize
- case-harden
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soften
- liquefy
- dissolve
- thaw
- melt
- liquify
- fuse
- flux
- smelt
- deliquesce
- unfreeze