CALLOSITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does callosity mean? 

• CALLOSITY (noun)
  The noun CALLOSITY has 2 senses:

1. an area of skin that is thick or hard from continual pressure or friction (as the sole of the foot)

2. devoid of passion or feeling; hardheartedness

  Familiarity information: CALLOSITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CALLOSITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An area of skin that is thick or hard from continual pressure or friction (as the sole of the foot)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

callosity; callus

Hypernyms ("callosity" is a kind of...):

hardening (abnormal hardening or thickening of tissue)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "callosity"):

clavus; corn (a hard thickening of the skin (especially on the top or sides of the toes) caused by the pressure of ill-fitting shoes)

Derivation:

callous (having calluses; having skin made tough and thick through wear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Devoid of passion or feeling; hardheartedness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

callosity; callousness; hardness; insensibility; unfeelingness

Hypernyms ("callosity" is a kind of...):

insensitiveness; insensitivity (the inability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "callosity"):

dullness (lack of sensibility)

Derivation:

callous (emotionally hardened)

 Context examples 

This primate has a long dog-like muzzles, close-set eyes, heavy powerful jaws, thick fur, a short tail and often brightly colored ischial callosities.

(Baboon, NCI Thesaurus)

You have done a good deal of digging by your callosities.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)