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

As a community organizer with Valley Voices in the Central Valley, Araceli Molar de Barrios hands out free food to farmworkers, along with “Know Your Rights” cards.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

“If villages like El Molar disappear, Spain will lose a very important part of its identity,” he said.

From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2022

People regularly now post satellite pictures of "Molar Berg", aka D28, as it bumps and grinds its way around the Antarctic coast.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2022

The procedure she needs costs $4,000 in California, she said, but only $1,000 in Los Algodones, known as Molar City, a border town that caters to Americans seeking cheaper dental treatment.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2021

Molar dentition from 3—3/3—3 to 6—6/6—6, the former being the usual number; the tibia and fibula are united for at least a third of their length.

From Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon by Sterndale, Robert Armitage