frenulum
noun
fren·u·lum
ˈfren-yə-ləm 
plural frenula
ˈfren-yə-lə
1
: a connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain a part (such as the tongue)
2
: a bristle or group of bristles on the front edge of the posterior wings of some lepidoptera that unites the wings by interlocking with a catch on the posterior part of the forewings
Examples of frenulum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the tongue, warts usually look gray or white and grow on the sides of the tongue or the lingual frenulum (the fold underneath your tongue).7
Oral warts are caused by different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
—
Carley Millhone, Health, 6 July 2025
Cutting the frenulum could even make sleep worse, Baldassari says.
—Christina Szalinski, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2021
To correct the problem, doctors snip the frenulum underneath the tongue to release it.
—Christina Caron, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020
The surgery can be necessary for infants when the lingual frenulum, the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too tight, restricting the tongue's movement.
—Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 15 July 2019
His frenulum — the ridge of tissue attaching the gums to the flesh of the lips and chin — was torn.
—Jane Wester, charlotteobserver, 22 Mar. 2018
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Carley Millhone, Health, 6 July 2025
Cutting the frenulum could even make sleep worse, Baldassari says.
—Christina Szalinski, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2021
To correct the problem, doctors snip the frenulum underneath the tongue to release it.
—Christina Caron, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020
The surgery can be necessary for infants when the lingual frenulum, the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is too tight, restricting the tongue's movement.
—Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 15 July 2019
His frenulum — the ridge of tissue attaching the gums to the flesh of the lips and chin — was torn.
—Jane Wester, charlotteobserver, 22 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Frenulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frenulum. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
frenulum
noun
fren·u·lum
ˈfren-yə-ləm
plural frenula
-lə
: a connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain a part (as the tongue)
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