incisor

noun in·ci·sor \ in-ˈsī-zər \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of incisor

: a front tooth typically adapted for cutting; especially : one of the cutting teeth in mammals located between the canines when canines are present — see tooth illustration

See incisor defined for English-language learners

See incisor defined for kids

Recent Examples of incisor from the Web

The first incisor, so to speak, was a special-use district that the Planning Department added to the commercial corridor in 2014.

— jonathan kauffman, SFChronicle.com, "Is 24th Street’s Latino Cultural District enough to stop gentrification?," 15 June 2018
At 5 weeks, the young western lowland gorilla was seen to have two lower incisors.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Infant gorilla now teething, National Zoo says," 8 June 2018
That doesn't stop other families from handing out $5, $10, or even $20 for incisors, Moneyish reports.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "This Is How Much Kids Are Getting From the Tooth Fairy These Days," 18 Apr. 2018
The 76ers power forward suffered a game-ending chipped left central incisor and cut upper lip on the first possession of Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers' Dario Saric still feeling effects of cellulitis," 14 Apr. 2018
One lab tested the ratio of uranium to thorium in two of Misliya-1’s incisors.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Humans expanded out of Africa 40,000 years earlier than we thought," 25 Jan. 2018
First-time tooth extractors scored an average $5.70 per incisor (down 2 cents from the previous year).

— nicole zelniker, USA TODAY, "A cavity in generosity: Survey finds the Tooth Fairy was mean in 2017, despite the improving economy," 27 Feb. 2018
Romania's Maria Marinela Mazilu has, in the part of her helmet that covers her mouth, triple-sized red lips, two fangs for incisors.

— chico harlan, chicagotribune.com, "An Olympics skeleton helmet, where Game of Thrones meets Dracula," 16 Feb. 2018
Romania's Maria Marinela Mazilu has, in the part of her helmet that covers her mouth, triple-sized red lips, two fangs for incisors.

— author: chico harlan, Anchorage Daily News, "An Olympics skeleton helmet, where ‘Game of Thrones’ meets Dracula," 16 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incisor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of incisor

1666

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

INCISOR Defined for English Language Learners

incisor

noun

Definition of incisor for English Language Learners

: a tooth that has a sharp edge for biting : one of the four front teeth of the upper or lower jaw

INCISOR Defined for Kids

incisor

noun in·ci·sor \ in-ˈsī-zər \

Definition of incisor for Students

: a tooth (as any of the four front teeth of the human upper or lower jaw) for cutting

Medical Dictionary

incisor

noun in·ci·sor \ in-ˈsī-zər \

medical Definition of incisor

: a front tooth adapted for cutting; especially : any of the eight cutting human teeth that are located between the canines with four in the lower and four in the upper jaw