premolar
adjective
pre·mo·lar
(ˌ)prē-ˈmō-lər 
: situated in front of or preceding the molar teeth
especially
: being or relating to those teeth of a mammal in front of the true molars and behind the canines when the latter are present
premolar
noun
Examples of premolar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Studies of fossil hominins suggest that their sturdy premolar teeth may have been used either to open seeds or chew starchy underground tubers and bulbs.
—
Marlene Zuk, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2013
Both jaws had a third premolar, or cheek tooth, that’s only present in 2 to 6 percent of all Smilodon specimens.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 June 2021
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.
Marlene Zuk, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2013
Both jaws had a third premolar, or cheek tooth, that’s only present in 2 to 6 percent of all Smilodon specimens.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 June 2021
Dictionary Entries Near premolar
Cite this Entry
“Premolar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premolar. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
premolar
1 of 2 adjective
pre·mo·lar
-ˈmō-lər
: situated in front of or preceding the molar teeth
especially
: being or relating to those teeth of a mammal in front of the true molars and behind the canines when the latter are present
premolar
2 of 2 noun1
: a premolar tooth that in humans is one of two in each side of each jaw
called also bicuspid
2
: a milk tooth that occupies the position later taken by a premolar tooth of the permanent dentition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share