carnassial
[ kahr-nas-ee-uhl ]
/ kɑrˈnæs i əl /
adjective
(of teeth) adapted for shearing flesh.
noun
a carnassial tooth, especially the last upper premolar or the first lower molar tooth of certain carnivores.
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Words nearby carnassial
carnal knowledge, carnallite, Carnap, carnaroli, Carnarvon, carnassial, Carnatic, carnation, carnauba, Carné, Carneades
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for carnassial
British Dictionary definitions for carnassial
carnassial
/ (kɑːˈnæsɪəl) /
adjective
zoology of, relating to, or designating the last upper premolar and first lower molar teeth of carnivores, which have sharp edges for tearing flesh
noun
a carnassial tooth
Word Origin for carnassial
C19: from French carnassier meat-eating, from Provençal, from carnasso abundance of meat, from carn meat, flesh, from Latin carō
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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