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Glite Dictionary
malposed tooth

malposed tooth

9.3
A tooth that grows in the wrong place in the mouth
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : diente malposicionado
  • A malposed tooth can make it difficult to clean neighboring teeth thoroughly.

Examples

  • Orthodontic treatment is often required to correct a malposed tooth.

  • The dentist explained that his malposed tooth could cause problems with his bite.

  • The dentist identified a malposed tooth during the check-up.

  • She has a malposed tooth that causes her discomfort.

  • A malposed tooth can make it difficult to clean neighboring teeth thoroughly.

  • Orthodontic treatment is often required to correct a malposed tooth.

  • The dentist explained that his malposed tooth could cause problems with his bite.

Surface Forms

malposed tooth singular
malposed teeth plural

Morphology

malposed + tooth

The meaning 'a tooth in an abnormal or faulty position' is directly and transparently derived from the adjective 'malposed' (badly/incorrectly positioned) combined with 'tooth'. Although somewhat technical, the adjective encodes position, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Malposed tooth shows a simple image: a single tooth that is malposed, meaning it has grown in the wrong place or at the wrong angle in the mouth. That's why the term means 'a tooth in an abnormal position' and often needs dental care like braces.