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

Explanation

The big strong teeth in the back of your mouth are molars. Molars make it possible for you to chew and grind the food you eat. If you don't have molars, don't order the steak. Humans generally have twelve molars by the time they're adults, including the wisdom teeth which often grow in crooked and need to be removed. All mammals have molars, used for crushing and grinding food, but they come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Molar comes from the Latin molaris dens, "grinding tooth," from the root mola, "millstone."

Example Sentences

Standing on four pronged feet at the junction of two rivers, O’Donnell + Tuomey’s five-story design resembles a giant chipped molar.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

My dentist said a molar needed to be yanked because of a cellular breakdown called resorption, and a periodontist in his office recommended a bone graft and probably an implant.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

In order to discover the DNA, Dr Mazanec had to take a molar from the jaw, remove the root and carefully return the tooth.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2023

By analyzing the molar teeth, tooth shape and mandible of the remains, it was possible to define the approximate weight and diet type of A. gracilis.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2023

His lips spread wide, revealing a gray molar with a dark pit in the side.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth