Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
upper jawbone

upper jawbone

1 4.2
The bone at the top of the mouth that holds the upper teeth and joins the skull
  • noun
  • /ˈʌpər ˈdʒɔːboʊn/
translation icon : maxilar
  • The dentist examined the patient’s upper jawbone for signs of infection.

Examples

  • The x-ray revealed a fracture in her upper jawbone after the accident.

  • In birds, the upper jawbone is specially adapted for feeding.

  • The upper jawbone supports the teeth.

  • Many animals have a strong upper jawbone.

  • The surgeon carefully examined the patient's upper jawbone before performing the dental procedure.

  • Researchers analyzed the upper jawbone of the ancient fossil to learn more about its diet and habitat.

  • During the anatomy class, the students studied the structure of the upper jawbone in vertebrates.

Synonyms

maxilla
vsupper jawbone
  • Specialized
3 8.6

The upper jaw that holds the top teeth

is the plain English term used instead of the Latin medical word
upper jaw
vsupper jawbone
2 2.8

The top part of the jaw that holds the upper teeth

is the actual bone itself rather than the wider mouth part
maxillary
vsupper jawbone
  • Specialized
1 9.5

The bone of the upper jaw that holds the upper teeth

is the specific bone term naming the actual bone rather than a regional label

Surface Forms

upper jawbone singular
upper jawbones plural

Morphology

upper + jawbone

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'upper' (situated toward the top) modifying 'jawbone' (the bone forming the jaw), so it straightforwardly denotes the jawbone at the top of the mouth. This adjective+noun compounding follows common compositional patterns across languages, making it easily inferable for a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Upper jawbone is a name that gives a clear picture: upper means the top and jawbone is the bone that holds the teeth, so it is the bone at the top of the mouth. That's why it refers to the bone forming the upper part of the jaw, often joined to the 'skull'.