Teeth Definition Teeth Definition 1

Teeth (noun) — the bones in the mouth that are used to bite and chew food. However, people also use them to smile. It’s important to keep them clean and brush them with a toothbrush and toothpaste on a regular basis. 

After we figured out the meaning of “teeth,” let’s now head to the basics of this word.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/tiːθ/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Teeth”?

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Tips for “teeth” pronunciation: 

Start by saying “tee” with a solid and long “ee” sound in it, like in the word “see” or “feel”. Then touch your tongue behind your top front teeth, and blow air out softly for the “th” sound.

Be really gentle — it should go like a really soft “z” sound. And don’t even think of pronouncing it like “s,”.

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Examples: How to Use “Teeth” in a Sentence?

I wash my teeth every morning and evening.
My puppy has eight teeth already.
Watch out! Do not bite it with your teeth.
She laughed, revealing her shining teeth.
Wolves use their teeth to chew and bite.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Teeth”?

While we’ve learned the basics of the word, let’s take a closer look at the “teeth” synonyms to define it even more.

Related nouns: tooth

Synonyms (contextual): whites chompers grinders

Common collocations: brush your teeth to lose teeth white teeth

“Teeth” Word Formation and Description in Context

Knowing just “teeth” description is not enough, because any word usage becomes natural and flawless only after you discover its relationship to other parts of a sentence. “Teeth” is no exception. Let’s take a look at some of the examples:

With adjectives: clean teeth sharp teeth crooked teeth

With verbs: show teeth whiten teeth lose teeth

With nouns (noun + noun): teeth fairy baby teeth teeth implants

Idioms and Phrases with “Teeth”: Make Your Speech Chic

Have you heard about Idioms? Those are fun phrases that use “teeth” or any other word, but don’t mean them exactly. Here are some easy ones:

  • Cut your teeth — to get the very first experience.

    She cut her teeth baking bread with her mom before starting a job in the local bakery.
  • Lie through your teeth — to tell an obvious lie.

    Jim lied through his teeth, telling anyone he was home last night.
Teeth Idioma Teeth Idioma 1
  • By the skin of your teeth — to barely succeed in something.

    I passed the exam to get my driver’s license by the skin of my teeth.

Test Your Knowledge of the “Teeth” Meaning — Quiz Time!

Ready for some practice? Solve these tasks correctly to check if you define “teeth” correctly.

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
Teeth are used to chew food.
2
Only people have teeth.
3
Teeth are very soft.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these chaotic sentences in order:
1
don’t
Newborns
have
teeth
2
is
for
teeth
bad
Sugar
your
3
Brush
for
your
a
breath
teeth
fresh
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the option that fits the idiom meaning the best:
1
She passed the race by the skin of her teeth. What does the phrase “by the skin of her teeth” mean?
2
He was showing all whites after a recent dental procedure. What does “whites” refer to?
3
He cut his teeth as a chef to get the job of his dream in the future. How do you understand the phrase “cut his teeth as a chef”?

Enjoy personalized learning!

Going the Extra Mile: “Teeth” Word in Other Languages

We already know how to say “teeth” in English, but what about learning how this word sounds around the world? Here’s how it sounds in the 3 most popular languages after English.

Language Word for “Teeth”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Dientes
Flag French French   Dents
Flag German German   Zähne

Fascinating Facts About “Teeth”: Securing Your Knowledge

We’re almost done! Here are the top 3 most interesting facts about teeth to make your knowledge rock-solid and life-lasting.

  • Your teeth are like your fingertips.

    Yes, the Healthline claims that there are no people with identical teeth, not even twins! So smile big — you’re one of a kind!
  • In Ancient Rome, people used urine to whiten their teeth.

    Makes you want to take a shower, right? But no worries, modern dentistry already has some fresh and innovative approaches to make your teeth all white.
  • Sharks have up to 50,000 teeth in their lifetime.

    They lose their teeth in battles and grow new ones all the time. Just imagine brushing THAT much day by day! Thank God most of us have only 32 teeth.

Famous Phrases Featuring “Teeth”

“…We got the glow in our mouths
White teeth teens are out
White teeth teens are up for it…”

Lorde, “White Teeth Teens”

Explanation: The “white teeth teens” symbolize popular, attractive teens who maintain a polished, flawless “white teeth”, as a metaphor for outward perfection. Lorde ultimately reveals she is not one of these “white teeth teens” and reflects on the emptiness behind the image.

“— What is it?
— You’re missin’ some teeth.
— Where? It’s my gold tooth. My gold tooth! I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him!”

— Chris Columbus, “Home Alone”

Explanation: This scene depicts a moment in “Home Alone” when Kevin has set one of his traps and knocked out Harry’s gold tooth.

“Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth,
And spotted the perils beneath.
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth.”

— Pam Ayres, “Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth”

Explanation: The poem expresses the poet’s regret for neglecting dental care in youth. She realizes that eating too many sweets, like toffees and sticky food, caused damage beneath her teeth, which she failed to notice at the time.