tooth
♦ tooth /t'uːθ/ (teeth)
1 [N-COUNT] oft poss N
Your teeth are the hard white objects in your mouth, which you use for biting and chewing.
If a tooth feels very loose, your dentist may recommend that it's taken out.
2 [N-PLURAL]
The teeth of something such as a comb, saw, cog, or zip are the parts that stick out in a row on its edge.
3 [N-PLURAL]
If you say that something such as an official group or a law has teeth, you mean that it has power and is able to be effective.
The opposition argues that the new council will be unconstitutional and without teeth...
The law must have teeth, and it must be enforced.
4
see also wisdom tooth
5 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR prep, PHR -ing
If you say that someone cut their teeth doing a particular thing, at a particular time, or in a particular place, you mean that that is how, when, or where they began their career and learned some of their skills.
...director John Glen, who cut his teeth on Bond movies...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something sets your teeth on edge, you mean that you find it extremely unpleasant or irritating.
Their voices set your teeth on edge.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you fight tooth and nail to do something, you do everything you can in order to achieve it. If you fight something tooth and nail, you do everything you can in order to prevent it.
He fought tooth and nail to keep his job...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR n
If you describe a task or activity as something you can get your teeth into, you mean that you like it because it is interesting, complex, and makes you think hard. (INFORMAL)
This role gave her something to get her teeth into...
9 [PHRASE] PHR n
If you do something in the teeth of a difficulty or danger, you do it in spite of the difficulty or danger.
I was battling my way along the promenade in the teeth of a force ten gale...
In the teeth of the longest recession since the 1930s, the company continues to perform well.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone is lying through their teeth, you are emphasizing that they are telling lies. (INFORMAL)
11 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe someone as long in the tooth, you are saying unkindly or humorously that they are old or getting old. (INFORMAL)
Aren't I a bit long in the tooth to start being an undergraduate?
12 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v
If you have a sweet tooth, you like sweet food very much.
13
to get the bit between your teeth: see bit
to give one's eye teeth for something: see eye
to gnash one's teeth: see gnash
to grit your teeth: see grit
a kick in the teeth: see kick
by the skin of your teeth: see skinmilk tooth (milk teeth)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Your milk teeth are the first teeth that grow in your mouth, which later fall out and are replaced by a second set.tooth de|cay
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you have tooth decay, one or more of your teeth has become decayed.tooth fairy (tooth fairies)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The tooth fairy is an imaginary creature. Children are told that if they put a tooth that comes out under their pillow, the tooth fairy will take it away while they are sleeping and leave a coin in its place.wis|dom tooth (wisdom teeth)
[N-COUNT]
Your wisdom teeth are the four large teeth at the back of your mouth which usually grow much later than your other teeth.
1 [N-COUNT] oft poss N
Your teeth are the hard white objects in your mouth, which you use for biting and chewing.
If a tooth feels very loose, your dentist may recommend that it's taken out.
2 [N-PLURAL]
The teeth of something such as a comb, saw, cog, or zip are the parts that stick out in a row on its edge.
3 [N-PLURAL]
If you say that something such as an official group or a law has teeth, you mean that it has power and is able to be effective.
The opposition argues that the new council will be unconstitutional and without teeth...
The law must have teeth, and it must be enforced.
4
see also wisdom tooth
5 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR prep, PHR -ing
If you say that someone cut their teeth doing a particular thing, at a particular time, or in a particular place, you mean that that is how, when, or where they began their career and learned some of their skills.
...director John Glen, who cut his teeth on Bond movies...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something sets your teeth on edge, you mean that you find it extremely unpleasant or irritating.
Their voices set your teeth on edge.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you fight tooth and nail to do something, you do everything you can in order to achieve it. If you fight something tooth and nail, you do everything you can in order to prevent it.
He fought tooth and nail to keep his job...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR n
If you describe a task or activity as something you can get your teeth into, you mean that you like it because it is interesting, complex, and makes you think hard. (INFORMAL)
This role gave her something to get her teeth into...
9 [PHRASE] PHR n
If you do something in the teeth of a difficulty or danger, you do it in spite of the difficulty or danger.
I was battling my way along the promenade in the teeth of a force ten gale...
In the teeth of the longest recession since the 1930s, the company continues to perform well.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone is lying through their teeth, you are emphasizing that they are telling lies. (INFORMAL)
11 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe someone as long in the tooth, you are saying unkindly or humorously that they are old or getting old. (INFORMAL)
Aren't I a bit long in the tooth to start being an undergraduate?
12 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v
If you have a sweet tooth, you like sweet food very much.
13
to get the bit between your teeth: see bit
to give one's eye teeth for something: see eye
to gnash one's teeth: see gnash
to grit your teeth: see grit
a kick in the teeth: see kick
by the skin of your teeth: see skinmilk tooth (milk teeth)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Your milk teeth are the first teeth that grow in your mouth, which later fall out and are replaced by a second set.tooth de|cay
[N-UNCOUNT]
If you have tooth decay, one or more of your teeth has become decayed.tooth fairy (tooth fairies)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
The tooth fairy is an imaginary creature. Children are told that if they put a tooth that comes out under their pillow, the tooth fairy will take it away while they are sleeping and leave a coin in its place.wis|dom tooth (wisdom teeth)
[N-COUNT]
Your wisdom teeth are the four large teeth at the back of your mouth which usually grow much later than your other teeth.