n. The state or quality of being hardened or callous.n. In a concrete sense, any thickened or hardened part on the surface of the human body or that of any animal, such as the hard and often somewhat bony lumps that arise in places exposed to constant pressure and friction, the cicatrized surfaces of old ulcers or wounds, etc., the natural cutaneous thickenings on the buttocks of gibbons and other monkeys, etc.n. In botany, any part of a plant unusually hard.n. In entomology, an elevated, rounded portion of the surface, generally smooth, and paler than the surrounding parts, appearing like a swelling.