edentulate

9.9

Having few or no teeth

adjective
/ɪˈdɛntʃəˌleɪt/

Specialized

: edentado

Many anteaters are edentulate, having evolved without the need for teeth.

Examples

The elderly patient was almost completely edentulate after years of dental problems.
Certain armadillos are edentulate and depend on insects for food.
The edentulate patient required special care.
Many edentulate animals adapt well to their environment.
Many anteaters are edentulate, having evolved without the need for teeth.
Certain armadillos are edentulate and depend on insects for food.
The elderly patient was almost completely edentulate after years of dental problems.

Synonyms

toothless

vsedentulate

13 2.4

Having no teeth in the mouth

can include cases with only a few teeth rather than total absence

edentate

vsedentulate

Specialized

9.9

Having few or no teeth

emphasizes that this trait is natural rather than acquired

edental

vsedentulate

Specialized

9.9

Having few or no teeth

is broader and not limited to animals and stresses natural origin

edentulous

vsedentulate

Specialized

9.9

Having no natural teeth and often wearing false teeth

describes an innate lack rather than loss from illness or age

untoothed

vsedentulate

7.2

Having a smooth edge with no small sharp points

refers to absence of biological teeth rather than edge smoothness

Antonyms

toothed

1 3.7

Having teeth in the mouth for biting and chewing

How Toothless

edentulous

Specialized

9.9

edentulate

Specialized

9.9

dentate

Specialized

9.4

Surface Forms

edentulate positive

Morphology

edentulate = edentulous (opaque) = e + dent + ulate

The form is built from Latin elements (e- + dent + adjectival ending) that are not productive or obvious to an average B1 learner, so the meaning 'toothless' is not directly guessable from modern English morphemes.

Etymology

The word edentulate comes from the parts e- 'without' and dent 'tooth', the same root you see in dentist and dental, so it means having few or no teeth.