mandible

noun

man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a
: jaw sense 1a
especially : a lower jaw consisting of a single bone or of completely fused bones
b
: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts
c
: either the upper or lower segment of the bill of a bird
2
: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials
especially : either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws
mandibular adjective
mandibulate adjective

Examples of mandible in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The mockup of the insect’s head shows a rough circle adorned with two antennae, a small mandible hidden underneath and eyestalks protruding from the sides. Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 The teeth mandible and humerus are all smaller than those found at Liang Bua, Kaifu says. Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024 This has puzzled archaeologists because Egyptian mummification typically involved bandaging the mandible to the skull to keep the mouth closed. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 1 Aug. 2024 With this special advantage, animals with mandibles quickly took over the planet, becoming Earth’s most diverse animal group. Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for mandible 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mandible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin mandibula, from Latin mandere to chew; probably akin to Greek masasthai to chew

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mandible was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mandible

Cite this Entry

“Mandible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandible. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

mandible

noun
man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a(1)
: a lower jaw of a vertebrate consisting of a single bone or of bones that are completely united
(2)
: the lower jaw with its surrounding soft parts
b
: either the upper or lower part of the bill of a bird
2
: either of the first pair of mouthparts of some invertebrates and especially arthropods (as an insect or crustacean) that often form biting organs

Medical Definition

mandible

noun
man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a
: jaw sense 1
especially : jaw sense 1b
b
: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts
2
: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials
especially : either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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