Definition

1. Noun:
   • A primary tooth: A deciduous tooth is one of the first set of teeth in young mammals, including humans, which are temporary and eventually fall out to be replaced by permanent teeth. In children, there are 20 deciduous teeth in total.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The dentist explained that the cavity was in a deciduous tooth, so it would fall out naturally.
  • Losing a deciduous tooth is a common milestone in a child's development.

Advanced Usage

• "Shed a deciduous tooth": The process of a baby tooth becoming loose and falling out.
  • My daughter is excited because she is about to shed her first deciduous tooth.

Variants and Related Words

• Primary tooth (n): A synonym for deciduous tooth.
  • The chart showed the positions of all the primary teeth.
• Baby tooth (n): A common informal term for a deciduous tooth.
  • He put his lost baby tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy.
• Milk tooth (n): Another informal term, primarily used in British English.
  • The wobbly milk tooth made it difficult for him to eat an apple.

Synonyms

• Primary tooth: The first set of teeth.
• Baby tooth: A temporary tooth in a child.
• Milk tooth: A temporary tooth (common in UK English).

Related Phrases

• Cut a deciduous tooth: To have a baby tooth emerge through the gums.
  • The infant was fussy because she was cutting a new deciduous tooth.

Noun

1. one of the first temporary teeth of a young mammal (one of 20 in children)