teeth

American  

[teeth] / tiθ /

noun

1. plural of tooth.

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teeth British  

/ tiːθ /

noun

1. the plural of tooth

2. the most violent part

   the teeth of the gale

3. the power to produce a desired effect

   that law has no teeth

4. See skin

5. to become engrossed in

6. in direct opposition to; against

   in the teeth of violent criticism he went ahead with his plan

7. to threaten, esp in a defensive manner

8. to the greatest possible degree

   armed to the teeth

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teeth Idioms  

1. see armed to the teeth; bare one's teeth; by the skin of one's teeth; cut one's teeth on; fed to the gills (teeth); fly in the face (teeth) of; give one's eyeteeth; gnash one's teeth; grit one's teeth; in the teeth of; kick in the pants (teeth); lie through one's teeth; like pulling teeth; scarce as hen's teeth; set one's teeth on edge; sink one's teeth into; to the teeth. Also see under tooth.

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Other Word Forms

• teethless adjective

Explanation

Your teeth are the pearly white things in your mouth that show when you smile. Don't forget to brush your teeth before bed. (You should also floss, while you're at it.) Many animals have teeth, from herbivores like cows to carnivores like wolves and lions that use their sharp teeth to tear meat (as well as for hunting and to defend themselves). Humans get two full sets of teeth in their lifetime — first baby teeth that fall out and then the adult teeth that replace them. Other animals, like sharks, regularly grow new sets to replace worn teeth.

Example Sentences

But would the holographic pixels of an A.I.-generated facsimile capture the tiny crevices between my brother’s crooked teeth?

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

A new international study published in Current Biology reports the analysis of ancient mitochondrial DNA extracted from eight Neanderthal teeth found in Stajnia Cave in Poland.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

“If the FTC gives us the rules necessary to get the tools we need, that’s where the real teeth would come from,” said Schweitzer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Her mother-in-law once offered to spend $50,000 on her teeth but, like Queen Elizabeth II, she stuck with her OG choppers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

I gritted my teeth to keep from saying something else stupid and stopped moving so the poor technician could attempt to untangle the mess I’d made.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin