Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Tooth

Tooth

(toōth)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Teeth
(tēth)
.
[OE.
toth
,
tooth
, AS.
tōð
; akin to OFries.
tōth
, OS. & D.
tand
, OHG.
zang
,
zan
, G.
zahn
, Icel.
tönn
, Sw. & Dan.
tand
, Goth.
tumpus
, Lith.
dantis
, W.
dant
, L.
dens
,
dentis
, Gr.
ὀδούς
,
ὀδόντος
, Skr.
danta
; probably originally the p. pr. of the verb to
eat
. √239. Cf.
Eat
,
Dandelion
,
Dent
the tooth of a wheel,
Dental
,
Dentist
,
Indent
,
Tine
of a fork,
Tusk
. ]
1.
(Anat.)
One of the hard, bony appendages which are borne on the jaws, or on other bones in the walls of the mouth or pharynx of most vertebrates, and which usually aid in the prehension and mastication of food.
☞ The hard parts of teeth are principally made up of dentine, or ivory, and a very hard substance called enamel. These are variously combined in different animals. Each tooth consist of three parts, a crown, or body, projecting above the gum, one or more fangs imbedded in the jaw, and the neck, or intermediate part. In some animals one or more of the teeth are modified into tusks which project from the mouth, as in both sexes of the elephant and of the walrus, and in the male narwhal.
In adult man there are thirty-two teeth, composed largely of dentine, but the crowns are covered with enamel, and the fangs with a layer of bone called cementum. Of the eight teeth on each half of each jaw, the two in front are incisors, then come one canine, cuspid, or dog tooth, two bicuspids, or false molars, and three molars, or grinding teeth. The milk, or temporary, teeth are only twenty in number, there being two incisors, one canine, and two molars on each half of each jaw. The last molars, or wisdom teeth, usually appear long after the others, and occasionally do not appear above the jaw at all.
How sharper than a serpent’s
tooth
it is
To have a thankless child!
Shakespeare
2.
Fig.: Taste; palate.
These are not dishes for thy dainty
tooth
.
Dryden.
3.
Any projection corresponding to the tooth of an animal, in shape, position, or office;
as, the
teeth
, or cogs, of a cogwheel; a
tooth
, prong, or tine, of a fork; a
tooth
, or the
teeth
, of a rake, a saw, a file, a card
.
4.
(a)
A projecting member resembling a tenon, but fitting into a mortise that is only sunk, not pierced through.
(b)
One of several steps, or offsets, in a tusk. See
Tusk
.
5.
(Nat. Hist.)
An angular or prominence on any edge;
as, a
tooth
on the scale of a fish, or on a leaf of a plant
; specifically
(Bot.)
,
one of the appendages at the mouth of the capsule of a moss. See
Peristome
.
6.
(Zool.)
Any hard calcareous or chitinous organ found in the mouth of various invertebrates and used in feeding or procuring food;
as, the
teeth
of a mollusk or a starfish
.
In spite of the teeth
,
in defiance of opposition; in opposition to every effort.
In the teeth
,
directly; in direct opposition; in front.
“Nor strive with all the tempest in my teeth.”
Pope.
To cast in the teeth
,
to report reproachfully; to taunt or insult one with.
Tooth and nail
,
as if by biting and scratching; with one's utmost power; by all possible means.
L'Estrange.
“I shall fight tooth and nail for international copyright.”
Charles Reade.
Tooth coralline
(Zool.)
,
any sertularian hydroid.
Tooth edge
,
the sensation excited in the teeth by grating sounds, and by the touch of certain substances, as keen acids.
Tooth key
,
an instrument used to extract teeth by a motion resembling that of turning a key.
Tooth net
,
a large fishing net anchored.
[Scot.]
Jamieson.
Tooth ornament
.
(Arch.)
Same as
Dogtooth
,
Noun.
, 2.
Tooth powder
,
a powder for cleaning the teeth; a dentifrice.
Tooth rash
.
(Med.)
See
Red-gum
, 1.
To show the teeth
,
to threaten.
“When the Law shows her teeth, but dares not bite.”
Young.
To the teeth
,
in open opposition; directly to one's face.
“That I shall live, and tell him to his teeth .”
Shak.

Tooth

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Toothed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Toothing
.]
1.
To furnish with teeth.
The twin cards
toothed
with glittering wire.
Wordsworth.
2.
To indent; to jag;
as, to
tooth
a saw
.
3.
To lock into each other. See
Tooth
,
Noun.
, 4.
Moxon.

Webster 1828 Edition


Tooth

TOOTH

,
Noun.
plu.
teeth. [L. dens.]
1.
A bony substance growing out of the jaws of animals, and serving as the instrument of mastication. The teeth are also very useful in assisting persons in the utterance of words, and when well formed and sound, they are ornamental. The teeth of animals differ in shape, being destined for different offices. The front teeth in men and quadrupeds are called incisors, or incisive or cutting teeth; next to these are the pointed teeth, called canine or dog teeth; and on the sides of the jaws are the molar teeth or grinders.
2.
Taste; palate.
These are not dishes for thy dainty tooth.
3.
A tine; a prong; something pointed and resembling an animal tooth; as the tooth of a rake, a comb, a card, a harrow, a saw, or of a wheel. The teeth of a wheel are sometimes called cogs,and are destined to catch corresponding parts of other wheels.
Tooth and nail, [by biting and scratching,] with one's utmost power; by all possible means.
To the teeth, in open opposition; directly to one's face.
That I shall live, and tell him to his teeth.
To cast in the teeth, to retort reproachfully; to insult to the face.
In spite of the teeth, in defiance of opposition; in opposition to every effort.
To show the teeth, to threaten.
When the law shows her teeth, but dares not bite.

TOOTH

,
Verb.
T.
To furnish with teeth; as, to tooth a rake.
1.
To indent; to cut into teeth; to jag; as, to tooth a saw.
2.
To lock into each other.

Definition 2024


tooth

tooth

English

a tooth

Noun

tooth (plural teeth)

  1. A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth of many vertebrate animals, generally used for eating.
  2. A sharp projection on the blade of a saw or similar implement.
  3. A projection on the edge of a gear that meshes with similar projections on adjacent gears, or on the circumference of a cog that engages with a chain.
  4. (botany) A pointed projection from the margin of a leaf.
  5. (animation) The rough surface of some kinds of cel or other films that allow better adhesion of artwork.
  6. (figuratively) taste; palate
    I have a sweet tooth: I love sugary treats.
    • Dryden
      These are not dishes for thy dainty tooth.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

tooth (third-person singular simple present tooths, present participle toothing, simple past and past participle toothed)

  1. To provide or furnish with teeth.
    • (Can we date this quote?) William Wordsworth
      The twin cards toothed with glittering wire.
  2. To indent; to jag.
    to tooth a saw
  3. To lock into each other, like gear wheels.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Moxon to this entry?)

Anagrams