milk-tooth
Definition
Noun: - A milk-tooth is one of the first set of teeth in mammals, including humans, that appear in infancy and are later replaced by permanent teeth. These teeth are also known as deciduous teeth or baby teeth.
Usage Examples
- (One of the early teeth that falls out naturally.)
- (The primary teeth in young children.)
Advanced Usage
"to shed a milk-tooth": to lose a baby tooth naturally as part of growth.
- He shed his last milk-tooth just before his twelfth birthday. (He lost the final primary tooth.)
"milk-tooth eruption": the process of milk-teeth breaking through the gums.
- The baby's milk-tooth eruption caused some discomfort and fussiness. (The appearance of the first teeth.)
Variants and Related Words
- Milk-tooth (n): singular form.
- Milk-teeth (n): plural form.
- The toddler's milk-teeth are coming in well. (The primary teeth are developing properly.)
Synonyms
- Baby tooth: a common term for a milk-tooth.
- Deciduous tooth: a scientific term, referring to teeth that are shed and replaced.
Related Idioms
- "cut one's milk-teeth on something": to gain early experience in a particular activity or field.
- She cut her milk-teeth on classical music before moving to jazz. (She gained initial experience.)
Additional Notes
- Milk-teeth typically begin to appear around six months of age and are gradually replaced by permanent teeth starting around age six. They are essential for chewing, speech development, and guiding permanent teeth into proper position.