Definition

1. Verb:
   • To grow or cut one's first teeth; to have teeth emerge through the gums, especially referring to babies or young children.

Usage

• The verb "teethe" is intransitive and describes the natural process of primary teeth (baby teeth) breaking through the gums. It is typically used in the present continuous tense (e.g., ) to describe a child currently experiencing this process.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The baby has been fussy because she is teething.
  • Most infants begin to teethe around six months of age.
  • Our pediatrician gave us advice on how to soothe a teething child.

Advanced Usage

• "to be teething": Describes the ongoing state of cutting new teeth.
  • The toddler is teething and wants to chew on everything.
• "to have teethed": The past participle form, though less common, can be used.
  • By her first birthday, she had already teethed on several toys.

Variants and Related Words

• Teething (n/adj): The process or period of cutting teeth. Often used as a noun ("the teething phase") or an adjective ("teething problems").
  • The teething ring helped soothe the baby's gums.
  • The company experienced some teething troubles in its first year. (Figurative use for initial difficulties)

Synonyms

• Cut teeth: A more informal phrasal synonym.
  • The baby is cutting teeth and is a bit irritable.

Related Phrases

• Teething ring: A toy designed for a baby to chew on while teething.
• Teething gel: A topical medication applied to a baby's gums to relieve pain.

Verb

1. grow teeth; cut the baby teeth
   • The little one is teething now