car·nas·si·al (kär-n s  - l)adj. Adapted for tearing apart flesh: carnassial teeth. n. A tooth adapted for tearing apart flesh, especially one of the last upper premolar or first lower molar teeth in carnivorous mammals. [From French carnassier, carnivorous, from Provençal, from carnasso, meat in abundance, from carn, flesh, from Latin car  , carn-; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.] |
carnassial [kɑːˈnæsɪəl]
adj
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) Zoology of, relating to, or designating the last upper premolar and first lower molar teeth of carnivores, which have sharp edges for tearing flesh
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a carnassial tooth
[from French carnassier meat-eating, from Provençal, from carnasso abundance of meat, from carn meat, flesh, from Latin carō]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | carnassial - (of a tooth) adapted for shearing flesh; "the carnassial teeth of carnivores" sharp - having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing; "a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point" |
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