mandible

noun

man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a
: jaw sense 1a
especially : a lower jaw consisting of a single bone or of completely fused bones
b
: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts
c
: either the upper or lower segment of the bill of a bird
2
: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials
especially : either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws
mandibular adjective
mandibulate adjective

Examples of mandible in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The team identified the genomic variation by extracting DNA from the Well-man’s mandible, the lower part of the jaw. Hannah Peart, NBC News, 28 Oct. 2024 There were 451 bones at the site, and some of these included mandibles with molars, which are good at preserving relatively intact DNA. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 This also happens to be one of the last Bugs Bunny shorts made before another animator in Clampett’s unit, Robert McKimson, refreshed the bunny’s design: raising him a little taller, lengthening his ears, and widening his mouth to accentuate his murine mandibles. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024 The mockup of the insect’s head shows a rough circle adorned with two antennae, a small mandible hidden underneath and eyestalks protruding from the sides. Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mandible 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin mandibula, from Latin mandere to chew; probably akin to Greek masasthai to chew

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mandible was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mandible

Cite this Entry

“Mandible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandible. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mandible

noun
man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a(1)
: a lower jaw of a vertebrate consisting of a single bone or of bones that are completely united
(2)
: the lower jaw with its surrounding soft parts
b
: either the upper or lower part of the bill of a bird
2
: either of the first pair of mouthparts of some invertebrates and especially arthropods (as an insect or crustacean) that often form biting organs

Medical Definition

mandible

noun
man·​di·​ble ˈman-də-bəl How to pronounce mandible (audio)
1
a
: jaw sense 1
especially : jaw sense 1b
b
: the lower jaw with its investing soft parts
2
: any of various invertebrate mouthparts serving to hold or bite food materials
especially : either member of the anterior pair of mouth appendages of an arthropod often forming strong biting jaws
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!