carnassial Hear it!

carnassial Definition

car·nas·sial (kär nas′ē əl)

adjective

designating or of teeth of a flesh-eating animal specialized for slicing or shearing rather than tearing, esp. the last premolars of the upper jaw and the first molars of the lower jaw

Etymology: < Fr carnassier, carnivorous < Prov carnasa, bad flesh (+ pejorative -acea) < carn, flesh < L caro: see carnage

noun

a carnassial tooth

carnassial Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • tooth: The bone crushing premolars are relatively large and the carnassial teeth are used solely for slicing or shearing.

Browse dictionary entries near carnassial

  1. ‹ Carnap
  2. ‹ carnallite
  3. ‹ carnality
  4. ‹ carnal
  5. ‹ carnage
  6. ‹ carmine
  7. ‹ carminative
  8. ‹ Carmelite
  9. ‹ Carmel
  10. ‹ Carmarthenshire
  1. Carnatic ›
  2. carnation ›
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  5. Carnegie, Andrew ›
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  8. carnify ›
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  10. carnivalesque ›