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maxillary

[mak-suh-ler-ee, mak-sil-uh-ree]
adjective
  1. of or relating to a jaw, jawbone, or maxilla.
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noun, plural max·il·lar·ies.
  1. a maxilla or maxillary bone.
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Origin of maxillary

First recorded in 1620–30; maxill(a) + -ary
Related formsin·ter·max·il·lar·y, adjectivepost·max·il·lar·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for maxillary

Historical Examples

  • Maxillary palpi: the first pair of palpi, borne on the maxilla.

    Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

    John. B. Smith

  • Maxillary segment: the sixth segment of the head, bearing the maxillae.

  • Palpuli: the maxillary palpi in Lepidoptera, when visibly developed.

  • He lifted his eyebrows; but I saw his maxillary muscles twitching.

    The Plum Tree

    David Graham Phillips

  • He could shift to either Foot and he kept his Maxillary covered.

    Ade's Fables

    George Ade

Word Origin and History for maxillary

adj.

1620s, from Latin maxilla (see maxilla) + -ary.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
maxillary in Medicine

maxillary

(măk′sə-lĕr′ē)
adj.
  1. Of or relating to a jaw or jawbone, especially the upper one.
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n.
  1. A maxillar; a jawbone.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.