mandible
[ man-duh-buh l ]
/ ˈmæn də bəl /
noun
the bone of the lower jaw.
(in birds)
- the lower part of the bill.
- mandibles, the upper and lower parts of the bill.
(in arthropods) one of the first pair of mouthpart appendages, typically a jawlike biting organ, but styliform or setiform in piercing and sucking species.
Origin of mandible
1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin
mandibula jaw, equivalent to
mandi- (combining form of Latin
mandere to chew) +
-bula noun suffix of means
Words nearby mandible
Example sentences from the Web for mandible
British Dictionary definitions for mandible
mandible
/ (ˈmændɪbəl) /
noun
the lower jawbone in vertebrates
See jaw (def. 1)
either of a pair of mouthparts in insects and other arthropods that are usually used for biting and crushing food
ornithol
either the upper or the lower part of the bill, esp the lower part
Derived forms of mandible
mandibular (mænˈdɪbjʊlə), adjective mandibulate (mænˈdɪbjʊlɪt, -ˌleɪt), noun, adjectiveWord Origin for mandible
C16: via Old French from Late Latin
mandibula jaw, from
mandere to chew
Medical definitions for mandible
mandible
[ măn′də-bəl ]
n.
A U-shaped bone forming the lower jaw, articulating with the temporal bone on either side.
submaxilla
Other words from mandible
man•dib′u•lar (-dĭb′yə-lər) adj.Scientific definitions for mandible
mandible
[ măn′də-bəl ]
The lower part of the jaw in vertebrate animals. See more at skeleton.
One of the pincerlike mouthparts of insects and other arthropods.