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Glite Dictionary
second molar

second molar

3.5
A large tooth at the back of the mouth behind the first back tooth
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkənd ˈmoʊlər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : segundo molar
  • After examining my x-rays, the dentist confirmed that my second molar is still healthy and does not need any treatment.

Examples

  • I need to get my second molar checked.

  • A filling was necessary for the second molar after the cavity was found.

  • Children usually get their second molar around the age of twelve.

  • The dentist extracted my upper left second molar due to severe decay.

  • The second molar is crucial for chewing food.

  • The dentist told me that the second molar usually erupts around the age of twelve.

  • During my last check-up, the hygienist said I should take extra care when brushing my second molar because it's harder to clean.

Synonyms

molar
vssecond molar
26 2.5

A large flat tooth at the back of the mouth for grinding food

is the specific tooth in that group located seventh from the center on each side

Surface Forms

second molar singular
second molars plural

Morphology

2nd + molar

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'second' indicates the ordinal position and 'molar' names the grinding tooth, so a learner who knows both words will infer it is the molar in the second position. This simple ordinal + noun composition is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English naming, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Second molar The noun second molar names the second large tooth, a molar, from the middle of the mouth. A molar is a big tooth for 'grinding' food, so the name simply tells you which back tooth it is.