- carnassial tooth
- a large molar or premolar of a carnivore, specialized for shearing and tearing.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
carnassial tooth
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carnassial tooth — noun the last upper premolar and first lower molar teeth of a carnivore; having sharp edges for cutting flesh • Hypernyms: ↑tooth … Useful english dictionary
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 — /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 — Adapted for shearing flesh; denoting those teeth designed to cut flesh. [Fr. carnassier, carnivorous, fr. L. caro, flesh] * * * car·nas·si·al (kahr nasґe əl) 1. adapted for shearing and tearing. 2. carnassial tooth … Medical dictionary
Tooth (animal) — Teeth in animals vary greatly. Some animals, such as turtles and tortoises, are toothless. Other animals, such as sharks, may go through many teeth in their lifetime. The multiple replacement of teeth is known as polyphedont. Since the appearance … 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 — adj. & n. adj. (of a carnivore s upper premolar and lower molar teeth) adapted for shearing flesh. n. such a tooth. Also called SECTORIAL. Etymology: F carnassier carnivorous … Useful english dictionary
