n. 1. A large multinucleate cell found in growing bone that resorbs bony tissue, as in the formation of canals and cavities. 2. An instrument used in surgical osteoclasis. [OSTEO- + Medieval Latin -clastēs, breaker (from Late Greek -klastēs, from Greek klastos, broken, from klān, to break).] os′te·o·clastic adj. |
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