incisor

[ in-sahy-zer ]

noun

, Dentistry.

1. any of the four anterior teeth in each jaw, used for cutting and gnawing.

incisor

/ ɪnˈsaɪzə /

noun

1. a chisel-edged tooth at the front of the mouth. In man there are four in each jaw

incisor

/ ĭn-sī′zər /

1. A sharp-edged tooth in mammals that is adapted for cutting or gnawing. The incisors are located in the front of the mouth between the canine teeth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of incisor¹

1665–75; < New Latin: literally, cutter, equivalent to Latin incīd ( ere ) to incise + -tor -tor, with -dt- > -s-

Example Sentences

In humans, abnormalities in this gene and several of its close neighbors collectively cause a syndrome that’s lethal to males and can prevent the maxillary lateral incisors, which correspond roughly to elephant tusks, from growing in females.

From Popular-Science

In humans, the disruption of one of those genes can cause tooth brittleness and the absence of a pair of upper incisors that are the “anatomical equivalent of tusks,” Campbell-Staton says.

From Science News

The tools, shaped like giant incisors, are almost identical to celts that would have traditionally been made from stone—but the iron versions would have been ground into shape by hand, without the help of a forge.

From Popular-Science

Horses have snipping incisors at the front to tear up grass, and huge grinding molars at the back.

From Science News For Students

He had only one tooth, and he ate by using his thumb as a second incisor.

From The Daily Beast

One source told Orth that Cruise brought in his hairstylist for Boniadi and wanted her incisor teeth filed down.

From The Daily Beast

In young females the width of the braincase is more than the distance between the alveoli of the incisor and first molar.

From Project Gutenberg

The incisor teeth are remarkably curved in their long axes, with a convexity in front.

From Project Gutenberg

I see four sharp incisor teeth, father—two upper, and two under, as a squirrel has.

From Project Gutenberg

The single median sulcus on the anterior face of each incisor is typical of the genus Cratogeomys.

From Project Gutenberg

The incisor of memorial brasses, again, more especially in continental examples, shows a fondness for the same principle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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