tooth

From Middle English tothe, toth, tooth, from Old English tōþ (“tooth”), from Proto-West Germanic *tanþ, from Proto-Germanic *tanþs (“tooth”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃dónts (“tooth”). Related to tusk. Doublet of dent, dens, tind, and tine.

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: to͞oth, IPA^(key): /tuːθ/

• Audio (RP, female)

  (file)

• Audio (RP, male)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /tuθ/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• (Wales (usually), Midlands (especially Birmingham)) IPA^(key): /tʊθ/
• Rhymes: -uːθ
• Homophone: twoth

tooth (plural teeth)

1. A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth of many vertebrate animals, generally used for biting and chewing food.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:tooth

   Hyponyms: bicuspid, canine, cuspid, incisor, premolar, molar; see also Thesaurus:tooth

2. A sharp projection on the blade of a saw or similar implement.

   Synonym: sawtooth

3. A projection on the edge of a gear that meshes with similar projections on adjacent gears, or on the circumference of a cog that engages with a chain.
4. Of a rope, the stickiness when in contact with another rope as in a knot.

   Jute has more tooth than polypropylene.

5. (zoology) A projection or point in other parts of the body resembling the tooth of a vertebrate animal.
   • 1832, Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, A monograph of the fluviatile bivalve shells of the river Ohio, page 43:

     Species XXXVI. Obliquaria bullata— (Unio bullata) […] Found at the falls of Ohio; rare; breadth almost two inches; cardinal and lamellar teeth like preceding species; apices rounded, decorticated, but not truncated

6. (botany) A pointed projection from the margin of a leaf.
7. (animation) The rough surface of some kinds of cel or other films that allows better adhesion of artwork.
8. (figurative) Liking, fondness (compare toothsome).

   Synonyms: fondness, appetite, taste, palate

   I have a sweet tooth: I love sugary treats.

   • 1693, John Dryden, “The Third Satire of Aulus Persius Flaccus”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis:

     These are not dishes for thy dainty tooth

9. (algebraic geometry) An irreducible component of a comb that intersects the handle in exactly one point, that point being distinct from the unique point of intersection for any other tooth of the comb.

tooth (third-person singular simple present tooths, present participle toothing, simple past and past participle toothed)

1. To provide or furnish with teeth.
   • 1815, William Wordsworth, The Brothers:

     His Wife sate near him, teasing matted wool, / While, from the twin cards toothed with glittering wire / He fed the spindle […]

2. To indent; to jag.

   to tooth a saw

3. To lock into each other, like gear wheels.
   • 1678, Joseph Moxon, Mechanick Exercises: or the Doctrine of Handy-works‎, page 260:

     Whereas if the Header of one side of the wall, toothed as much as the Stretcher on the other side, it would be a stronger Toothing, and the joints of the Header on one side, would be in the middle of the Headers of the course they lie upon of the other side

• Hotot

tooth

1. Alternative form of tothe