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car·nas·si·al (kahr-nasґe-əl) 1. adapted for shearing and tearing. 2. carnassial tooth.Medical dictionary. 2011.
Carnassial — Car*nas si*al, a. [Cf. F. carnassier carnivorous, and L. caro, carnis, flesh.] (Anat.) Adapted to eating flesh. n. A carnassial tooth; especially, the last premolar in many carnivores. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
carnassial — [kär nas′ē əl] adj. [< Fr carnassier, carnivorous < Prov carnasa, bad flesh (+ pejorative acea) < carn, flesh < L caro: see CARNAGE] designating or of teeth of a flesh eating animal specialized for slicing or shearing rather than… … English World dictionary
Carnassial — Carnassials are large teeth found in many carnivorous mammals, used for shearing flesh and bone in a scissor or shear like way. In the Carnivora, the carnassials are the modified last upper premolar and the first lower molar, but in the… … Wikipedia
carnassial — adjective Etymology: French carnassier carnivorous, ultimately from Latin carn , caro Date: circa 1852 of, relating to, or being a tooth of a carnivore often larger and longer than adjacent teeth and adapted for cutting rather than tearing •… … New Collegiate Dictionary
carnassial — /kahr nas ee euhl/, Zool. adj. 1. (of teeth) adapted for shearing flesh. n. 2. a carnassial tooth, esp. the last upper premolar or the first lower molar tooth of certain carnivores. [1840 50; < F carnassi(er) flesh eating ( < Pr, equiv. to… … Universalium
carnassial — car•nas•si•al [[t]kɑrˈnæs i əl[/t]] adj. 1) zool. (of teeth) adapted for shearing flesh 2) zool. a carnassial tooth, esp. the last upper premolar or the first lower molar tooth of carnivores • Etymology: 1840–50; < F carnassi(er) flesh eating… … From formal English to slang
carnassial — /kaˈnæsiəl/ (say kah naseeuhl) adjective 1. (of teeth) adapted for shearing flesh, as certain of the upper and lower cheek teeth of cats, dogs, etc. –noun 2. a carnassial tooth, especially the last upper premolar or the first lower molar tooth of …
carnassial — noun One of the teeth used by a carnivore for shearing flesh, being the last upper premolar and the first lower molar … Wiktionary
carnassial — adj. (Zoology) suitable for tearing meat (of teeth) … English contemporary dictionary
carnassial — [kα: nasɪəl] adjective Zoology denoting the large upper premolar and lower molar teeth of a carnivore, adapted for shearing flesh. Origin C19: from Fr. carnassier carnivorous , based on L. caro, carn flesh … English new terms dictionary
