teeth

UK: /ˈtiːθ/ US: /tiθ/ ,(tēth)

From tooth (n): npl: teeth

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

teeth /tiθ/   n. 

1. pl. of tooth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

teeth (tēth), n. 

1. pl. of tooth. 

teeth′less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

teeth / tiːθ/ noun

1. the plural of tooth
2. the most violent part: the teeth of the gale
3. the power to produce a desired effect: that law has no teeth
4. by the skin of one's teeth ⇒
   See skin15
5. get one's teeth into ⇒ to become engrossed in
6. in the teeth of ⇒ in direct opposition to; against
7. show one's teeth ⇒ to threaten, esp in a defensive manner
8. to the teeth ⇒ to the greatest possible degree: armed to the teeth

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tooth /tuθ/   n. [countable] , pl. teeth 

/tiθ/ .
1. Dentistry one of the hard bony parts attached in a row to each jaw, serving to bite and chew food or, esp. in animals, as weapons.
2. any part of something that sticks out and resembles a tooth, as a part of a comb, etc.
3. teeth, [plural] effective power, esp. to enforce something:
   to put teeth into the new law by increasing the penalty for disobeying it.

Idioms

4. Idioms in the teeth of, straight into or in defiance of:
   The ship sailed on in the teeth of the storm.
5. Idioms long in the tooth, elderly.
6. Idioms set or put one's teeth on edge, to cause a feeling of irritation in one:
   The supervisor always sets my teeth on edge.
7. Idioms show one's teeth, to become menacing;
   reveal one's feelings of anger or hatred.
8. Idioms sink or get one's teeth into, [sink/get + one's + ~ + into + object] to work on (something) with enthusiasm:
   At last he found a project he could sink his teeth into.
9. Idioms to the teeth, completely;
   fully;
   entirely:
   armed to the teeth.

toothed, adj. 
tooth•less, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tooth  (to̅o̅th),  n., pl. teeth, v., toothed  (to̅o̅tht, to̅o̅ᵺd), tooth•ing 

(to̅o̅′thing, -ᵺing). 

n. 

1. (in most vertebrates) one of the hard bodies or processes usually attached in a row to each jaw, serving for the prehension and mastication of food, as weapons of attack or defense, etc., and in mammals typically composed chiefly of dentin surrounding a sensitive pulp and covered on the crown with enamel.
2. (in invertebrates) any of various similar or analogous processes occurring in the mouth or alimentary canal, or on a shell.
3. any projection resembling or suggesting a tooth.
4. one of the projections of a comb, rake, saw, etc.
5. [Mach.]
   • any of the uniform projections on a gear or rack by which it drives, or is driven by, a gear, rack, or worm.
   • any of the uniform projections on a sprocket by which it drives or is driven by a chain.
6. [Bot.]
   • any small, toothlike marginal lobe.
   • one of the toothlike divisions of the peristome of mosses.
7. a sharp, distressing, or destructive attribute or agency.
8. taste, relish, or liking.
9. a surface, as on a grinding wheel or sharpening stone, slightly roughened so as to increase friction with another part.
10. a rough surface created on a paper made for charcoal drawing, watercolor, or the like, or on canvas for oil painting.
11. by the skin of one's teeth, barely:
    He got away by the skin of his teeth.
12. cast or throw in someone's teeth, to reproach someone for (an action):
    History will ever throw this blunder in his teeth.
13. cut one's teeth on, to do at the beginning of one's education, career, etc., or in one's youth:
    The hunter boasted of having cut his teeth on tigers.
14. in the teeth of:
    • so as to face or confront;
      straight into or against:
      in the teeth of the wind.
    • in defiance of;
      in opposition to:
      She maintained her stand in the teeth of public opinion.
15. long in the tooth, old;
    elderly.
16. put teeth in or into, to establish or increase the effectiveness of:
    to put teeth into the law.
17. set one's teeth, to become resolute;
    prepare for difficulty:
    He set his teeth and separated the combatants.
18. set or put one's teeth on edge:
    • to induce an unpleasant sensation.
    • to repel;
      irritate:
      The noise of the machines sets my teeth on edge.
19. show one's teeth, to become hostile or threatening;
    exhibit anger:
    Usually friendly, she suddenly began to show her teeth.
20. to the teeth, entirely;
    fully:
    armed to the teeth; dressed to the teeth in furs.

v.t. 

21. to furnish with teeth.
22. to cut teeth upon.

v.i. 

23. to interlock, as cogwheels.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English tōth; cognate with Dutch tand, German Zahn, Old Norse tǫnn; akin to Gothic tunthus, Latin dēns, Greek odoús (Ionic odó̄n), Sanskrit dánta

tooth ′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 8. fondness, partiality, predilection.