In the teeth

In the teeth
Tooth Tooth (t[=oo]th), n.; pl. {Teeth} (t[=e]th). [OE. toth,tooth, AS. t[=o][eth]; akin to OFries. t[=o]th, OS. & D. tand, OHG. zang, zan, G. zahn, Icel. t["o]nn, Sw. & Dan. tand, Goth. tumpus, Lith. dantis, W. dant, L. dens, dentis, Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, Skr. danta; probably originally the p. pr. of the verb to eat. [root]239. Cf. {Eat}, {Dandelion}, {Dent} the tooth of a wheel, {Dental}, {Dentist}, {Indent}, {Tine} of a fork, {Tusk}. ] 1. (Anat.) One of the hard, bony appendages which are borne on the jaws, or on other bones in the walls of the mouth or pharynx of most vertebrates, and which usually aid in the prehension and mastication of food. [1913 Webster]

Note: The hard parts of teeth are principally made up of dentine, or ivory, and a very hard substance called enamel. These are variously combined in different animals. Each tooth consist of three parts, a crown, or body, projecting above the gum, one or more fangs imbedded in the jaw, and the neck, or intermediate part. In some animals one or more of the teeth are modified into tusks which project from the mouth, as in both sexes of the elephant and of the walrus, and in the male narwhal. In adult man there are thirty-two teeth, composed largely of dentine, but the crowns are covered with enamel, and the fangs with a layer of bone called cementum. Of the eight teeth on each half of each jaw, the two in front are incisors, then come one canine, cuspid, or dog tooth, two bicuspids, or false molars, and three molars, or grinding teeth. The milk, or temporary, teeth are only twenty in number, there being two incisors, one canine, and two molars on each half of each jaw. The last molars, or wisdom teeth, usually appear long after the others, and occasionally do not appear above the jaw at all. [1913 Webster]

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: Taste; palate. [1913 Webster]

These are not dishes for thy dainty tooth. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. Any projection corresponding to the tooth of an animal, in shape, position, or office; as, the teeth, or cogs, of a cogwheel; a tooth, prong, or tine, of a fork; a tooth, or the teeth, of a rake, a saw, a file, a card. [1913 Webster]

4. (a) A projecting member resembling a tenon, but fitting into a mortise that is only sunk, not pierced through. (b) One of several steps, or offsets, in a tusk. See {Tusk}. [1913 Webster]

5. (Nat. Hist.) An angular or prominence on any edge; as, a tooth on the scale of a fish, or on a leaf of a plant; specifically (Bot.), one of the appendages at the mouth of the capsule of a moss. See {Peristome}. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) Any hard calcareous or chitinous organ found in the mouth of various invertebrates and used in feeding or procuring food; as, the teeth of a mollusk or a starfish. [1913 Webster]

{In spite of the teeth}, in defiance of opposition; in opposition to every effort.

{In the teeth}, directly; in direct opposition; in front. ``Nor strive with all the tempest in my teeth.'' --Pope.

{To cast in the teeth}, to report reproachfully; to taunt or insult one with.

{Tooth and nail}, as if by biting and scratching; with one's utmost power; by all possible means. --L'Estrange. ``I shall fight tooth and nail for international copyright.'' --Charles Reade.

{Tooth coralline} (Zo["o]l.), any sertularian hydroid.

{Tooth edge}, the sensation excited in the teeth by grating sounds, and by the touch of certain substances, as keen acids.

{Tooth key}, an instrument used to extract teeth by a motion resembling that of turning a key.

{Tooth net}, a large fishing net anchored. [Scot.] --Jamieson.

{Tooth ornament}. (Arch.) Same as {Dogtooth}, n., 2.

{Tooth powder}, a powder for cleaning the teeth; a dentifrice.

{Tooth rash}. (Med.) See {Red-gum}, 1.

{To show the teeth}, to threaten. ``When the Law shows her teeth, but dares not bite.'' --Young.

{To the teeth}, in open opposition; directly to one's face. ``That I shall live, and tell him to his teeth .'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Teeth — Infobox musical artist Name = The Teeth Img capt = The cover of You re My Lover Now Img size = Background = group or band Alias = Origin = Philadelphia, USA Genre = Rock Years active = 2001–April 3rd,2008 Label = Park The Van URL =… …   Wikipedia

  • The Teeth of the Tiger — Infobox Book | name = The Teeth of the Tiger title orig = translator = image caption = First edition cover author = Tom Clancy cover artist = country = United States language = English series = Ryanverse genre = Thriller novel publisher = G. P.… …   Wikipedia

  • To the teeth — Tooth Tooth (t[=oo]th), n.; pl. {Teeth} (t[=e]th). [OE. toth,tooth, AS. t[=o][eth]; akin to OFries. t[=o]th, OS. & D. tand, OHG. zang, zan, G. zahn, Icel. t[ o]nn, Sw. & Dan. tand, Goth. tumpus, Lith. dantis, W. dant, L. dens, dentis, Gr. odoy s …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • in the teeth of — phrasal 1. : in or into direct contact or collision with : so as directly to confront or be confronted with headed north in the teeth of the steadily rising gale N.R.Raine in the teeth of conditions to drive a normal actor crazy Kenneth Tynan 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • To the Teeth — Infobox Album | Name = To The Teeth Type = studio Artist = Ani DiFranco Released = November 16, 1999 Recorded = Genre = Folk rock Indie rock Length = 71:44 Label = Righteous Babe Producer = Ani DiFranco Reviews = *Slant Magazine Rating|3|5… …   Wikipedia

  • to the teeth — adverb : completely, fully armed to the teeth a theory in which my father upheld her to the teeth Della Lutes * * * to the teeth : fully or completely The men were armed to the teeth. [=the men had a lot of weapons] …   Useful english dictionary

  • in the teeth of — (something) if something happens or is done in the teeth of difficulties, the difficulties cause problems but do not stop it. The road was built in the teeth of fierce opposition from environmentalists …   New idioms dictionary

  • in the teeth of — phrasal 1. in or into direct contact or collision with < sailing in the teeth of a hurricane Current Biography > 2. in direct opposition to < rule had…been imposed by conquest in the teeth of obstinate resistance A. J. Toynbee > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • to the teeth — idi to the fullest extent; fully; entirely: armed to the teeth[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • in the teeth of — ► in the teeth of 1) directly against (the wind). 2) in spite of (opposition or difficulty). Main Entry: ↑tooth …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”