molar

¹ American  

[moh-ler] / ˈmoʊ lər /

noun

1. Also called molar tooth.  a tooth having a broad biting surface adapted for grinding, being one of twelve in humans, with three on each side of the upper and lower jaws.

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adjective

1. adapted for grinding, as teeth.

2. pertaining to such teeth.

molar ² American  

[moh-ler] / ˈmoʊ lər /

adjective

1. Physics.  pertaining to a body of matter as a whole, as contrasted with molecular and atomic.

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molar ³ American  

[moh-ler] / ˈmoʊ lər /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. pertaining to a solution containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

2. noting or pertaining to gram-molecular weight.

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molar ¹ British  

/ ˈməʊlə /

noun

1. any of the 12 broad-faced grinding teeth in man

2. a corresponding tooth in other mammals

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating any of these teeth

2. used for or capable of grinding

molar ² British  

/ ˈməʊlə /

adjective

1. (of a physical quantity) per unit amount of substance

   molar volume

2. (not recommended in technical usage) (of a solution) containing one mole of solute per litre of solution

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molar ¹ Scientific  

/ mō′lər /

1. Relating to a mole.

2. Containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

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molar ² Scientific  

/ mō′lər /

1. Any of the teeth located toward the back of the jaws, having broad crowns for grinding food. Adult humans have 12 molars.

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Etymology

Origin of molar¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English molares (plural), from Latin molāris “grinding tooth, molar,” equivalent to mol(a) “millstone, mill” + -āris -ar ¹

Origin of molar²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin mōl(ēs) “a lump; large mass” + -ar ¹

Origin of molar³

First recorded in 1860–65; mole ⁴ + -ar ¹

Example Sentences

The one molar she had left had no chewing surface, she said, meaning she could only eat soft food.

From BBC

Consider the infamous brown rats of New York City, which have evolved longer noses and shorter upper molar tooth rows, the better to enjoy the Big Apple's colder weather and higher-quality food.

From Salon

Resident zoo vet, Charlotte Bentley said the teeth that they operated on were "highly specialised and sharp molars".

From BBC

In 1832, Darwin uncovered molar teeth belonging to Toxodon, and the following year he discovered a skull belonging to the creature in Uruguay.

From Salon

Like Idaho, Tennessee bans abortions at all stages of pregnancy but there are exemptions in cases of molar pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies, and to remove a miscarriage or to save the life of the mother.

From Seattle Times