odontophore

[oh-don-tuh-fawr, -fohr]

noun Zoology.

a structure in the mouth of most mollusks over which the radula is drawn backward and forward in the process of breaking up food.

Origin of odontophore

First recorded in 1865–70, odontophore is from the Greek word odontophóros bearing teeth. See odonto-, -phore

Related formso·don·toph·o·ral

[oh-don-tof-er-uh l] /ˌoʊ dɒnˈtɒf ər əl/, o·don·toph·o·rine

[oh-don-tof-uh-rahyn, -er-in] /ˌoʊ dɒnˈtɒf əˌraɪn, -ər ɪn/, o·don·toph·or·ous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for odontophore

Historical Examples of odontophore

Lingual ribbon: The chitinous band of teeth, or rasp, borne upon the odontophore; the radula.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide
Augusta Foote Arnold

British Dictionary definitions for odontophore

odontophore

noun

an oral muscular protrusible structure in molluscs that supports the radula

Derived Formsodontophoral (ˌɒdɒnˈtɒfərəl) or odontophorous, adjective

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