tooth

noun

ˈtüth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
plural teeth ˈtēth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
Synonyms of toothnext
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
toothlike
ˈtüth-ˌlīk How to pronounce tooth (audio)
adjective

Illustration of tooth

Illustration of tooth
  • A outside of a molar
  • 1 crown
  • 2 neck
  • 3 roots
  • B cross section of a molar
  • 1 enamel
  • 2 dentin
  • 3 pulp
  • 4 cementum
  • 5 gum
  • C dentition of adult human (upper) D dentition of adult human (lower)
  • 1 incisors
  • 2 canines
  • 3 bicuspids
  • 4 molars
Phrases
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

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dangerfield sank his teeth into the role, which was initially much smaller but expanded due to his sensational improv skills. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 25 July 2025 There can be no serious conversation about American health policy without a discussion of RFK Jr.’s teeth. —Dan Sweeney, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2025 King Charles isn’t shy about sinking his teeth into royal history. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025 Growing to less than a foot in length and most likely feasting on mollusks and worms, the new shark species is notable for its unique curved row of teeth designed for crushing small sea creatures. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tooth

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tooth was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing tooth

Rhymes for tooth

See All Rhymes for tooth

Browse Nearby Words

toot
tooth
toothache
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tooth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tooth. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tooth

noun
ˈtüth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
plural teeth ˈtēth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
1
a
: one of the hard bony structures that are usually located on the jaws of vertebrates and are used for seizing and chewing food and as weapons
b
: any of various usually hard and sharp structures especially around the mouth of an invertebrate
2
a
: something like or suggesting the tooth of an animal in shape, arrangement, or action
the tooth of a saw
b
: one of the projections on the rim of a cogwheel that fit between the projections on another part especially to transmit force : cog
toothless
ˈtüth-ləs
adjective
toothlike
-ˌlīk How to pronounce tooth (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

tooth

noun
ˈtüth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
plural teeth ˈtēth How to pronounce tooth (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tooth

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tooth

Nglish: Translation of tooth for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tooth

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