malar

1 of 2

adjective

ma·​lar ˈmā-lər 

-ˌlär

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

malar

2 of 2

noun

: zygomatic bone

called also malar bone

Examples of malar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Before the procedure, your surgeon will determine whether malar or submalar works better for your face. — Deanna Pai, Allure, 15 June 2023

About half of all people diagnosed with lupus end up developing this specific rash, also known as a malar rash², according to the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center. — Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 21 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

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)

Note: Latin māla has alternatively been explained as *mand-sla-, a derivative of mandere "to chew" (see mandible).

Noun

by ellipsis from malar bone

First Known Use

Adjective

1782, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for malar

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• alvar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar

Medical Definition

malar

adjective

ma·​lar ˈmā-lər  -ˌlär 

: of or relating to the cheek, the side of the head, or the zygomatic bone