First Known Use: 1872
Dictionary
osteoclast
noun os·te·o·clast \ˈäs-tē-ə-ˌklast\
Definition of OSTEOCLAST
: any of the large multinucleate cells closely associated with areas of bone resorption
— os·te·o·clas·tic \ˌäs-tē-ə-ˈklas-tik\ adjective
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Origin of OSTEOCLAST
International Scientific Vocabulary oste- + Greek klastos broken — more at clast
Medical Dictionary
osteoclast
noun os·teo·clast \ˈäs-tē-ə-ˌklast\
Medical Definition of OSTEOCLAST
1
: any of the large multinucleate cells closely associated with areas of bone resorption (as in a fracture that is healing)—compare chondroclast
2
: an instrument for performing osteoclasis
—os·teo·clas·tic \ˌäs-tē-ə-ˈklas-tik\ adjective
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