malar

adjective

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ma·lar | \ ˈmā-lər

, -ˌlär \

Definition of malar

(Entry 1 of 2)

: of or relating to the cheek or the side of the head

malar

noun

Definition of malar (Entry 2 of 2)

: zygomatic bone

— called also malar bone

Examples of malar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Also called a malar rash, the red skin looks like a sunburn. — NBC News, "What is lupus? What you need to know," 22 Mar. 2018

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

History and Etymology for malar

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin mālāris, from Latin māla (usually in plural mālae) "lower part of the face, cheeks, jaws" + -āris -ar ; māla perhaps going back to Italic *smaksla, going back to Indo-European *smḱ-slo-/sleh₂-, whence, from *smeḱ-, Old Irish smech "chin," and, from *smeḱ- or *smoḱ- with a suffix *-r-, Lithuanian smãkras, smakrà "chin," Albanian mjekrë "beard, chin," Armenian mawrow-kʼ "chin," Sanskrit śmaśru- "beard," Hittite zamakur, zamankur "beard" (with irregular z for š)