foretooth
Definition
- Noun (plural: foreteeth):
- A tooth located at the front of the mouth, specifically an incisor.
- The foretooth is essential for cutting and biting into food.
Usage Examples
- (A front incisor was knocked out.)
- (The incisors in the front of the mouth.)
- (The first front tooth appeared.)
Advanced Usage
- "to grit one's foreteeth": (rare) a variant of "grit one's teeth," meaning to clench the front teeth in determination or anger.
- He gritted his foreteeth and pushed the heavy door open. (He clenched his incisors with effort.)
Variants and Related Words
- Foreteeth (plural noun): the set of incisors in the front of the mouth.
- Her foreteeth were perfectly aligned after wearing braces. (All front incisors.)
- Foretoothless (adjective): lacking one or more front teeth.
- The foretoothless grin of the old man was endearing. (He had no front teeth.)
Synonyms
- Incisor: a narrow-edged tooth at the front of the mouth, adapted for cutting.
- Front tooth: a general term for any tooth in the anterior part of the mouth.
Related Idioms
- "to cut one's foreteeth on something": (rare) to gain early experience with something, analogous to "cut one's teeth on."
- He cut his foreteeth on classic literature as a child. (He gained early experience reading classics.)
Phrasal Verbs
- (None directly applicable; "foretooth" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.)