Tooth: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for any of the hard, white structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing.

• She has a cavity in her back tooth
• He lost a tooth playing hockey

Type of tooth located at the back of the mouth that is used for grinding food. Molars have a flat surface.

• She is having a molar extracted next week
• Molars are essential for chewing tough foods

Type of tooth located in the front of the mouth that is used for cutting food. There are typically four incisors in each jaw.

• He has a chipped incisor that needs fixing
• Incisors are the first teeth you use to bite into an apple

Specific type of tooth that is pointed and used for tearing food. Also known as a cuspid and located between the incisors and premolars.

• Dogs have very sharp canines
• The dentist said my canine tooth is not aligned properly

Used primarily when referring to the individual projecting parts on a cogwheel or gear that mesh with other similar parts to transmit motion.

• The tooth of the gear was broken, causing the machine to malfunction.
• You need to check each tooth on the sprocket to ensure they are not worn out.

Best used when referring to a specific type of wheel or cylinder with projections (cogs) that transfer motion and force, often in mechanical contexts. It can also metaphorically refer to a person who plays a minor but necessary role in a larger organization.

• The factory's machinery is full of cogs that work together to keep production running smoothly.
• He felt like just another cog in the corporate machine.

Typically used when referring to a toothed wheel designed to engage with a chain or track in bicycles, motorcycles, and other machinery. It is often associated with the transmission of rotary motion between parallel axes.

• The bike's chain slipped off the sprocket.
• Make sure the sprocket is properly aligned with the chain before riding.

Commonly used to describe mechanisms consisting of toothed wheels that work together to change the speed, direction, or torque of mechanical devices. It is also widely used in everyday language to refer to equipment used for a particular purpose.

• You need to change gears to go uphill with your bike.
• She packed her hiking gear before heading out on the trip.