untooth
Definition
- Verb:
- To remove teeth from: "untooth" means to extract or take out the teeth of something, such as a saw, comb, or animal.
- To deprive of teeth: It can also mean to render something toothless, either literally (by removing teeth) or figuratively (by making something less effective or sharp).
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The craftsman had to untooth the old saw before replacing its blade. (To remove the teeth of a saw for maintenance.)
- The dentist carefully untoothed the patient's denture for cleaning. (To remove teeth from a dental appliance.)
- The new regulations effectively untoothed the law, making it powerless. (Figurative: to deprive of effectiveness or sharpness.)
Advanced Usage
"to untooth a comb": to remove the individual prongs or teeth of a comb.
- She untothed the broken comb to salvage the handle. (She extracted the teeth from the comb.)
"untoothed" (adj): describing something that has had its teeth removed or is naturally without teeth.
- The untoothed bear was no longer a threat. (The bear had its teeth removed.)
Variants and Related Words
Untoothed (adj): having no teeth; deprived of teeth.
- The untoothed saw was useless for cutting wood. (The saw lacked its teeth.)
Tooth (n): a hard, bony structure in the mouth used for biting and chewing, or a similar projection on a tool.
- The comb's tooth broke off. (One of the prongs of the comb.)
Synonyms
- De-tooth: to remove teeth from something.
- Disarm: to remove the means of attack or effectiveness (figurative use).
- Emasculate: to weaken or make less effective (figurative, often used for laws or policies).
Phrasal Verbs
- Untooth out: to remove teeth by pulling or extracting.
- The technician untoothed out the damaged parts of the gear. (He extracted the teeth from the gear.)
Related Idioms
To pull the teeth of: to render something harmless or ineffective.
- The amendment pulled the teeth of the original bill. (It made the bill less powerful.)
To be untoothed: to be without means of defense or attack.
- After the scandal, the committee was untoothed and could not enforce its rules. (It was powerless.)