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permanent tooth

permanent tooth

1 2.7
An adult tooth that replaces a baby one and should last most of life
  • noun
  • /ˈpɜrmənənt tuθ/
translation icon : diente permanente
  • Her permanent teeth seemed to be coming in white and, so far, straight.
  • permanent teeth come

Examples

  • Now, you got a new set of permanent teeth.

  • I tied him to a tree and pulled out four of his permanent teeth.

  • Caries experience and occurrence of untreated lesions in permanent teeth have increased with age, and oral hygiene status worsened as age advanced.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Most adults end up with a total of 32 permanent teeth.

  • Slowly, the permanent teeth grow in and take the place of the primary teeth.

Synonyms

adult tooth
vspermanent tooth
1 2.3

A tooth that replaces a baby tooth and stays in the mouth

is the same meaning but uses a different label for that tooth

Antonyms

deciduous tooth
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A child's baby tooth that falls out and is replaced by an adult tooth

How Permanent

permanent tooth
1 2.7
deciduous tooth
  • Specialized
1 3.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

permanent + tooth

The meaning 'an adult tooth meant to last' is directly and transparently composed from 'permanent' (intended to last) + 'tooth' (a biting/chewing structure). This straightforward noun+adjective composition is common and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Permanent tooth names the adult tooth that replaces a 'baby' tooth. It is called 'permanent' because it is meant to stay and 'last' for most of a person's life, not fall out like a 'baby' tooth.