noun
mandible
MAN-dihb-uhl
Mandible (noun) means the lower jawbone in humans and other vertebrates. Example: “The dentist examined an old fracture in his mandible.”
noun
1
The lower jawbone in humans and other vertebrates.
"The dentist examined an old fracture in his mandible."
2
Either half of a bird's beak.
"The parrot's upper mandible curves sharply downward."
3
One of the paired mouthparts insects and other arthropods use to grip and chew food.
"Ants use their mandibles to carry leaves many times their own weight."
How to use mandible
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA jaw or jaw-like part — used for the human lower jaw, a bird's beak half, or an insect's biting mouthpart.
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Word forms
- Plural
- mandibles
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The dentist examined an old fracture in his _____.
Etymology
From Late Latin mandibula ("jaw"), from mandere ("to chew").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mandible
See all rhymes for mandible →Frequently asked questions
What does “mandible” mean?
The word “mandible” means the lower jawbone in humans and other vertebrates. In plain terms, a jaw or jaw-like part — used for the human lower jaw, a bird's beak half, or an insect's biting mouthpart.
How do you pronounce “mandible”?
“Mandible” is pronounced MAN-dihb-uhl (/ˈmeə̯n.dɪb.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mandible” in a sentence?
Here is “mandible” used in a sentence: “The dentist examined an old fracture in his mandible.”
What is another word for “mandible”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mandible” include fang.
What part of speech is “mandible”?
“Mandible” is a noun.
Where does the word “mandible” come from?
The word “mandible” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin mandibula ("jaw"), from mandere ("to chew").
How many meanings does “mandible” have?
“Mandible” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the lower jawbone in humans and other vertebrates.
