teeth - Master This Word
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teeth Word Meanings
- a hard, bony structure in the mouth used for biting or chewing
- one of the small, hard, white structures in the mouth
- something resembling a tooth in shape or function
teeth Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
teeth Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/tuːθ/
US
/tuθ/
teeth Word Etymology
tooth: from Old English 'toð', related to Proto-Germanic '*tanþs', meaning the hard structure in the mouth; memory image: imagine a strong tooth biting into an apple, making a clean bite.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I start by taking a bite and let my jaw move, one tooth meeting crust as I chew. I press down, then shift my jaw a fraction to check the bite, feeling the tooth work with the bite instead of against it. I adjust the pressure, hold steady, and let the chewing rhythm build, the tooth becoming a steady lever in my mouth. The taste and texture set in, and I realize how this little tooth helps me get through the bite with control.
Real Context
Tooth is a noun referring to the hard, bony structure in the mouth used for biting and chewing. It also names any single member of the set of teeth, such as a front tooth or a molar. The term can describe objects that resemble a tooth in shape or function, for example the teeth of a saw or the teeth of a gear. Common phrases build on the idea of a tooth, including toothache, lose a tooth, and brush your teeth. Etymology goes back to Old English toð, related to Proto-Germanic tanþs; memory image: imagine a strong tooth biting into an apple, leaving a clean bite.
Usage Reminders
- - Remember tooth is singular; teeth is the plural.
- - Use tooth for a single tooth, not the whole set.
- - Say toothache, not tooth pain in most cases.
- - Brush your teeth, not your tooth.
- - When describing gear or saw parts, tooth means a single ridge.
- - Distinguish true teeth from metaphorical teeth in idioms.
Common Misconceptions
- Tooth only refers to human teeth, not animal teeth
- Tooth is pluralized as 'tooths' (correct plural is 'teeth')
- Tooth cannot be used in references to tool parts (they are 'teeth' of a saw/gear)
- Tooth always means the whole set of teeth in one mouth context
- You must say 'tooth pain' instead of 'toothache' in formal writing
Thinking Differences
English distinguishes single teeth from the set as teeth; this helps learners talk about one tooth vs. the whole mouth. Learners often overgeneralize with 'tooths' or mix up tooth/teeth in phrases like 'toothbrush' vs. 'brush your teeth'.
Learning Tips
- memorizing tooth plural is teeth
- memorize common phrases: toothache, brush your teeth, lose a tooth
- link to the memory image of biting an apple
- practice with varied contexts: mouth pain, tool parts
- use simple sentences to compare tooth vs teeth
- read aloud to fix pronunciation in context
Related Listening
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