molar

¹ American  

[moh-ler] / ˈmoʊ lər /

noun

• molars
  plural

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

molar ¹ British  

/ ˈməʊlə /

noun

1. any of the 12 broad-faced grinding teeth in man

2. a corresponding tooth in other mammals

---

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

---

molar ¹ Scientific  

/ mō′lər /

1. Relating to a mole.

2. Containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

---

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.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• molars
  plural

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

See Examples For:

molar molars

“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen,” Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and owner of the firm Pacific Paleontology, said in the news release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

The one molar she had left had no chewing surface, she said, meaning she could only eat soft food.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2025

In the first experiment of its kind to be conducted on medieval horse remains, the researchers took 22 molar teeth from 15 individual animals and drilled out portions of the enamel for isotope analysis.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 22, 2024

Treasury hundred dollar bill, and the dentist is saying, sadly, in French, “I think we can save the molar, but I’m afraid that tongue will have to come out.”

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Ella can't remember when she first started grinding her teeth at night, but she can vividly recall the excruciating jaw ache, the headaches, and being told her molars were disappearing.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

The fossil includes unusually large canine and premolar teeth, molars with rounded and strongly textured chewing surfaces, and a particularly sturdy jaw.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

Tamma tiptoes “up climbs with body english and devious footwork”; she clings to fingerholds the size of molars; a fall sees her come “cheesegrating” down a slab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

In December 1987, when Bergalis was 19 years old, she went to a dentist in Jensen Beach, Florida, to get her bottom molars pulled.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2025

My mother who laughs when she says this and shows a large gap in her mouth where she lost three more molars to the dentist last week.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat