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osteoclast

os·te·o·clast [ óstee ə klàst ] (plural os·te·o·clasts)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. bone cell: a large cell with many nuclei, found in growing bone. It assimilates bony tissue and is active in the formation of canals and cavities.

2. surgical instrument: an instrument used to break bones during surgery to correct a natural malformation or a badly healed fracture

[Late 19th century. <osteo- + Greek klastas "broken" < klan "to break"]

os·te·o·clas·tic [ òstee ə klástik ] adjective
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