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Synonyms

carious

American  
[kair-ee-uhs] / ˈkɛər i əs /

adjective

  1. having caries, as teeth; decayed.


carious British  
/ ˌkɛərɪ-, ˈkɛərɪˌəʊz, ˈkɛərɪəs, ˌkærɪˈɒsɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. (of teeth or bone) affected with caries; decayed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of carious

1520–30; < Latin cariōsus decayed, rotten, equivalent to cari ( ēs ) caries + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Nuwer's so-called cavities, he concluded, had actually been "incipient carious lesions," a form of early stage decay that some dentists call "microcavities."

From Seattle Times Nov. 29, 2011

But other experts are critical of the Diagnodent and other early detection devices because they identify areas on teeth that aren't actually carious lesions.

From Seattle Times Nov. 29, 2011

But other experts are critical of the Diagnodent and other early-detection devices because they identify areas on teeth that aren’t actually carious lesions.

From New York Times Nov. 28, 2011

Ms. Nuwer’s so-called cavities, he concluded, had actually been “incipient carious lesions,” a form of early-stage decay that some dentists call “microcavities.”

From New York Times Nov. 28, 2011

The eyes appeared red and suffused; a carious tooth was then extracted, which caused her to moan slightly.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 382, October 1847 by Various

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