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Tendonitis refers to the inflammation of a tendon, which is a thick fibrous cord that attaches muscle to bone. This condition often arises due to repetitive motion and overuse, leading to pain, swelling, and limited movement in the affected area. Recognizing tendonitis as inflammation is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment, as it differentiates it from other tendon conditions such as tendonosis, which involves degeneration of the tendon without inflammation.

The other options describe conditions related to tendons but do not accurately define tendonitis itself. Enlargement may refer to various tendon-related issues but does not specify inflammation. Hardening of the tendon is more aligned with conditions like tendonosis, which is not characterized by inflammation. Stretching pertains to the physical elongation of tendons, relevant to injuries but distinct from the inflammatory process that defines tendonitis. Therefore, understanding tendonitis as inflammation is key in both medical knowledge and patient care.