molar

1 of 3

noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

specifically : one of the cheek teeth in mammals behind the incisors and canines see tooth illustration

molar

2 of 3

adjective (1)

1

: pulverizing by friction : grinding

2

: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth

molar

3 of 3

adjective (2)

1

: of or relating to a mole of a substance

the molar volume of a gas

2

: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution

molarity

mō-ˈla-rə-tē 

-ˈler-ə-tē

noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For three years, Bertha Embriz of San Francisco has gone without health insurance, skipping annual wellness exams and recently tolerating a broken molar by trying not to chew with it. —Kaiser Health News, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2023

In rare moments of levity, his eyes crinkled and his smile revealed a gold molar. —Robert Moor, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2022

The molar was found by a research student at the Orozmani dig site, dated between 1.77 and 1.84 million years old, in the Caucasus region. —Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022

Ancient proteins indicated the molar came from a girl. —Reuters, NBC News, 18 May 2022

The tool that dug into my rearmost molar’s pulp chamber shook my jaw with a percussive chug. —Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2021

The team had some 1,200 fragments of bones and teeth, but only a single molar could be visually identified as having come from a modern human. —Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2020

The molar was found in Southern China’s Chuifeng Cave. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2019

Almost certainly the Orlando Sentinel would not cover a manatee molar drama. —Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English molares, plural, from Latin molaris, from molaris of a mill, from mola millstone — more at mill

Adjective (2)

mole entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

molar

1 of 2 noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

especially : one behind the premolars of a mammal

molar

2 of 2 adjective

1

: adapted for grinding

2

: of or relating to a molar

Etymology

Noun

from Latin molaris "a grinding tooth," from mola "millstone" — related to mill entry 1

Medical Definition

molar

1 of 4 noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

specifically : one of the mammalian teeth behind the incisors and canines sometimes including the premolars but more exactly restricted to the three posterior pairs in each human jaw on each side which are not preceded by milk teeth

molar

2 of 4 adjective

1

a

: pulverizing by friction

molar teeth

b

: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth

molar gland

2

: of, relating to, possessing the qualities of, or characterized by a hydatidiform mole

molar pregnancy

molar

3 of 4 adjective

1

: of or relating to a mass of matter as distinguished from the properties or motions of molecules or atoms

2

: of or relating to larger units of behavior especially as relatable to a prior deprivation or motivational pattern of the organism

interest in such molar problems of personality as the ego functions

—R. R. Holt

compare molecular sense 2

molar

4 of 4 adjective

1

: of or relating to a mole of a substance

the molar volume of a gas

2

: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution