- tooth
- toothW2S2 [tu:θ] n plural teeth [ti:θ]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(in mouth)¦2¦(on a tool etc)¦3¦(power)¦4 fight tooth and nail5 get your teeth into something6 in the teeth of something7 set somebody's teeth on edge▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: toth]1.) ¦(IN MOUTH)¦one of the hard white objects in your mouth that you use to bite and eat food▪ Her smile revealed a row of white, even teeth.▪ Last time I went to the dentist I had to have two teeth out .▪ I think the baby must be cutting a tooth (=growing one) .▪ The children ran out of the water, teeth chattering .▪ Carly spoke through clenched teeth (=with her teeth pushed together in anger) .▪ He gritted his teeth (=pushed his teeth together with determination) and pulled on the rope again.▪ The dog sank its teeth into my leg.→↑baby tooth,canine tooth at ↑canine2 (1), ↑eye tooth, ↑milk tooth, ↑wisdom tooth, ↑buck teeth, ↑false teeth, ↑gap-toothed2.) ¦(ON A TOOL ETC)¦one of the sharp or pointed parts that sticks out from the edge of a comb or ↑saw3.) ¦(POWER)¦have teethif a law or an organization has teeth, it has the power to force people to obey it▪ We need an Environment Agency that really has teeth.4.) fight tooth and nailto try with a lot of effort or determination to do something▪ We fought tooth and nail to get these plans accepted.5.) get your teeth into sth informalto start to do something with a lot of energy and determination▪ I can't wait to get my teeth into the new course.6.) in the teeth of sthin spite of opposition or danger from something▪ Permission for the development was granted in the teeth of opposition from local shopkeepers.7.) set sb's teeth on edgeif a sound or taste sets your teeth on edge, it gives you an uncomfortable feeling in your mouth▪ a horrible scraping sound that set my teeth on edge
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.