definitions

molar

1
[ moh-ler ]
/ ˈmoʊ lər /
|

noun

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

adapted for grinding, as teeth.
pertaining to such teeth.

RELATED WORDS

ivory, snag, tush, tusk, premolar, fang, cuspid, bicuspid, incisor, eyetooth, dicer, mincer, axe, point, canine, tine, dent, grinder, serration, denticle

Nearby words

mol., mol. wt., mola, molal, molality, molar, molar absorption coefficient, molar heat capacity, molar volume, molarity, molars

Origin of molar

1
1535–45; < Latin molāris grinder, short for (dēns) molāris grinding (tooth), equivalent to mol(a) millstone + -āris -ar1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for molars

British Dictionary definitions for molars (1 of 2)

molar

1
/ (ˈməʊlə) /

noun

any of the 12 broad-faced grinding teeth in man
a corresponding tooth in other mammals

adjective

of, relating to, or designating any of these teeth
used for or capable of grinding

Word Origin for molar

C16: from Latin molāris for grinding, from mola millstone

British Dictionary definitions for molars (2 of 2)

molar

2
/ (ˈməʊlə) /

adjective

(of a physical quantity) per unit amount of substancemolar volume
(not recommended in technical usage) (of a solution) containing one mole of solute per litre of solution

Word Origin for molar

C19: from Latin mōlēs a mass
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for molars (1 of 2)

molar

1
[ mō′lər ]

Chemistry

Relating to a mole.
Containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

Science definitions for molars (2 of 2)

molar

2
[ mō′lər ]

Any of the teeth located toward the back of the jaws, having broad crowns for grinding food. Adult humans have 12 molars.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for molars

molars

[ (moh-luhrz) ]

The teeth with broad surfaces at the back of the mouth that serve to grind food. Including the wisdom teeth, adults have twelve molars — six on the top and six on the bottom. (Compare incisors and canines.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.