tooth

play

noun \ ˈtüth \

Definition of tooth

plural teeth play \ˈtēth\

1 a :one of the hard bony appendages that are borne on the jaws or in many of the lower vertebrates on other bones in the walls of the mouth or pharynx and serve especially for the prehension and mastication of food and as weapons of offense and defense

b :any of various usually hard and sharp processes especially about the mouth of an invertebrate

2 :a projection resembling or suggesting the tooth of an animal in shape, arrangement, or action

a saw tooth

: such as

a :any of the regular projections on the circumference or sometimes the face of a wheel that engage with corresponding projections on another wheel especially to transmit force :cog

b :a small sharp-pointed marginal lobe or process on a plant

3 a teeth plural :effective means of enforcement

drug laws with teeth

b :something that injures, tortures, devours, or destroys

jealousy with rankling tooth
—Thomas Gray

4 :taste, liking

5 :a roughness of surface produced by mechanical or artificial means

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toothlike

play \ˈtüth-ˌlīk\ adjective

— in the teeth of

1 :in or into direct contact or collision with

sailing in the teeth of a hurricane
—Current Biography

2 :in direct opposition to

rule had … been imposed by conquest in the teeth of obstinate resistance
—A. J. Toynbee

— to the teeth

:fully, completely

armed to the teeth

See tooth defined for English-language learners

See tooth defined for kids

Examples of tooth in a Sentence

The dentist will have to pull that tooth.
You should brush your teeth every morning and night.
She clenched her teeth in anger.
He has a set of false teeth.
the teeth of a saw
The labor union showed that it has teeth.

Recent Examples of tooth from the Web

Months of secret meetings between American, Russian and Jordanian officials in Amman have produced a deal that lacks teeth.

— The Economist, "De-escalation in Syria," 19 July 2017
If Dobrayakova attempted to combat reductive stereotypes about Russian culture in the past, than what can be said of her use of a jarringly stereotypical depiction of a Mexican man, complete with a sombrero, overalls and a flower between his teeth?

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "Katya Dobrayakova Designs 'Ethnic Woman' Sweatshirt for Jungle Collection," 6 July 2017
Detrow even gave away his temporary tooth on the air to the first caller.

— diane bell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jer retired, now Jeff is gone as Radio Hall of Fame 'Showgram' is canceled by KyXy," 30 June 2017
The dog, who had to have all her teeth removed, would pace in the dark at night and howl when Parker went to work.

— teri figueroa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scores of rescued Yorkies seized from fetid home enjoying life with adoptive owners," 30 June 2017
Brush your teeth, wear deodorant and make sure your clothes are clean and neat — even if this isn't your usual routine.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Dressing for a job interview can be tricky, so take the stress out of your outfit," 29 June 2017
In this case, Phipps says, some of the theropod’s teeth are broken in half, indicating a violent fight.

— mike sager, Smithsonian, "Will the Public Ever Get to See the “Dueling Dinosaurs”?," 28 June 2017
At the beginning Airports are difficult issues in some cities; Denver and San Diego endured long-in-the-tooth airport projects.

— steve vockrodt and lynn horsley, kansascity.com, "‘Original sins’: Early errors erode KCI project perception, progress as deadlines loom," 25 June 2017
These plans have few teeth but can be used by state officials in setting pollution limits at sewage treatment plants or other facilities.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "How to kill a Louisville stream? Build a city around it," 22 June 2017

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

Illustration of tooth

Origin and Etymology of tooth

Middle English, from Old English tōth; akin to Old High German zand tooth, Latin dent-, dens, Greek odont-, odous

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

TOOTH Defined for English Language Learners

tooth

play

noun

Definition of tooth for English Language Learners

: one of the hard white objects inside the mouth that are used for biting and chewing
: a sharp or pointed object that sticks out of something and is part of a row of similar objects
teeth : the power that makes something effective

TOOTH Defined for Kids

tooth

play

noun \ ˈtüth \

Definition of tooth for Students

plural teeth \ˈtēth\

1 :one of the hard bony structures set in sockets on the jaws of most vertebrates and used especially to chew and bite

2 :something like or suggesting an animal's tooth in shape, arrangement, or action

the teeth of a comb

3 :one of the projections around the rim of a wheel that fit between the projections on another part causing the other part to move as the wheel turns

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toothless

\ˈtüth-ləs\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

tooth

play

noun \ ˈtüth \

medical Definition of tooth

plural teeth play \ˈtēth\

:any of the hard bony appendages that are borne on the jaws and serve especially for the prehension and mastication of food — see milk tooth, permanent tooth