cheek-tooth

A child uses a cheek-tooth to chew a piece of apple.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A molar tooth: "cheek-tooth" refers to any of the large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth, used for grinding food. These teeth are located near the cheeks, hence the name.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The dentist examined her cheek-tooth for cavities. (A molar tooth was checked for decay.)
  • He felt a sharp pain in his upper cheek-tooth while eating. (Pain in a molar tooth located near the cheek.)

Advanced Usage

• "cheek-tooth" as a technical term: In dental or anatomical contexts, "cheek-tooth" is an alternative, descriptive term for molars, distinguishing them from incisors or canines.
  • The patient's cheek-teeth showed significant wear from grinding. (The molars were worn down due to bruxism.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cheek (n): the side of the face below the eye.
  • She blushed, and her cheeks turned red. (The sides of her face became red.)
• Tooth (n): a hard, bony structure in the mouth used for biting and chewing.
  • He brushed his tooth carefully. (He cleaned one of his teeth.)

Synonyms

• Molar: a tooth with a broad surface for grinding food, located at the back of the mouth.
• Grinder: an informal term for a molar tooth.

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms: "cheek-tooth" does not appear in common idiomatic expressions. However, related idioms with "tooth" include:
  • "Cut one's teeth on": to gain early experience in a particular activity.

    • She cut her teeth on classical piano before switching to jazz. (She gained early experience with classical piano.)
  • "Long in the tooth": old or aging (originally referring to a horse's teeth).

    • The car is a bit long in the tooth but still runs well. (The car is old but functional.)