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unicuspid

unicuspid

9.9
A thing that has a single sharp point, often a tooth
  • adjective
  • /ˌjuːnɪˈkʌspɪd/
  • Specialized
: unicúspide
  • The fossilized jawbone revealed a unicuspid tooth, helping scientists classify the species.

Examples

  • Some fish species have unicuspid teeth used to grasp slippery prey.

  • A dentist noted the presence of a rare unicuspid premolar in the patient's mouth.

  • Look at this unicuspid!

  • The unicuspid tooth is unique.

  • A dentist noted the presence of a rare unicuspid premolar in the patient's mouth.

  • The fossilized jawbone revealed a unicuspid tooth, helping scientists classify the species.

  • Some fish species have unicuspid teeth used to grasp slippery prey.

Surface Forms

unicuspid positive

Morphology

unicuspid = cuspid (semi-transparent) = uni + cuspid

The word is formed by the productive prefix 'uni-' meaning 'one' plus the technical noun 'cuspid'; the composition is literal but relies on specialized vocabulary that may be unknown to average learners.

Etymology

Unicuspid comes from the parts uni- which means 'one' and cuspid (related to cusp) which means 'point'. So a unicuspid tooth is one that has a single sharp point.