molar

1 of 3

noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər How to pronounce molar (audio)
: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding
specifically : one of the cheek teeth in mammals behind the incisors and canines see tooth illustration

molar

2 of 3

adjective (1)

1
: pulverizing by friction : grinding
2
: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth

molar

3 of 3

adjective (2)

1
: of or relating to a mole of a substance
the molar volume of a gas
2
: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution
molarity
mō-ˈla-rə-tē How to pronounce molar (audio)
-ˈler-ə-tē
noun

Examples of molar 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.
Noun
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 There are two types of molar pregnancy:13 Complete molar pregnancy: A complete molar pregnancy is caused when the egg has no genetic information and is fertilized by one or two sperm. Krissi Danielsson, Parents, 30 July 2024 Sands returned one week later to get crowns for her two molars. Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2024 In the study, the mice were able to tolerate the highest concentration used, 0.6 molar, during the short testing periods. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for molar 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English molares, plural, from Latin molaris, from molaris of a mill, from mola millstone — more at mill

Adjective (2)

mole entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of molar was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near molar

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

molar

1 of 2 noun
mo·​lar ˈmō-lər How to pronounce molar (audio)
: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding
especially : one behind the premolars of a mammal

molar

2 of 2 adjective
1
: adapted for grinding
2
: of or relating to a molar
Etymology

Noun

from Latin molaris "a grinding tooth," from mola "millstone" — related to mill entry 1

Word Origin
Food is crushed in the mouth by the grinding of teeth, especially the molars. In much the same manner, grain may be ground into flour between two rough circular millstones. The Latin word for millstone is mola, and it seemed fitting to the English in the late Middle Ages that a tooth which acted like a millstone be called a molar.

Medical Definition

molar

1 of 4 noun
mo·​lar ˈmō-lər How to pronounce molar (audio)
: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding
specifically : one of the mammalian teeth behind the incisors and canines sometimes including the premolars but more exactly restricted to the three posterior pairs in each human jaw on each side which are not preceded by milk teeth

molar

2 of 4 adjective
1
a
: pulverizing by friction
molar teeth
b
: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth
molar gland
2
: of, relating to, possessing the qualities of, or characterized by a hydatidiform mole
molar pregnancy

molar

3 of 4 adjective
1
: of or relating to a mass of matter as distinguished from the properties or motions of molecules or atoms
2
: of or relating to larger units of behavior especially as relatable to a prior deprivation or motivational pattern of the organism
interest in such molar problems of personality as the ego functionsR. R. Holt
compare molecular sense 2

molar

4 of 4 adjective
1
: of or relating to a mole of a substance
the molar volume of a gas
2
: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution

More from Merriam-Webster on molar

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