Callus

Pronunciation

• US UK IPA: /ˈkælÉ™s/
• Rhymes: -ælÉ™s
• Homophones: callous

Origin

From Latin callum.

Full definition of callus

Noun

1. A hardened area of the skin (especially on the foot or hand) caused by repeated friction, wear or use.
• 2011,David Foster Wallace The Pale King, page 17:Sylvanshine had once been on a first date with a Xerox rep who had complex and slightly repulsive patterns of callus on her fingers from playing the banjo semi-professionally
2. The material of repair in fractures of bone; a substance exuded at the site of fracture, which is at first soft or cartilaginous in consistency, but is ultimately converted into true bone and unites the fragments into a single piece.
3. (botany) The new formation over the end of a cutting, before it puts out rootlets.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To form such hardened tissue