molar

1 of 3

noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər How to pronounce molar (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce molar (audio)
-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 See More

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of molar was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near molar

Cite this Entry

“Molar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molar. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

molar

1 of 2 noun
mo·​lar ˈmō-lər How to pronounce molar (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce molar (audio)
: 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 functionsR. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on molar

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