1. The kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
   "The dentist examined the patient's teeth during the routine check-up";
   - dentition
    
2. Power to be produce an effect or be enforced
   "the law has no teeth"
    
3. The strongest part or full force
   "driving in the teeth of a gale"

1. A hard bonelike structure in the jaws of vertebrates; used for biting and chewing or for attack and defence
   "The dentist filled a cavity in her molar tooth";
   - chopper [informal]
    
2. Something resembling the tooth of an animal
   "The jagged tooth of the broken glass could easily cut someone"
    
3. Toothlike structure in invertebrates found in the mouth or alimentary canal or on a shell
   "The sea urchin's teeth are used for grinding food"
    
4. A means of enforcement
   "the treaty had no teeth in it"
    
5. One of a number of uniform projections on a gear
   "The teeth of the two gears meshed perfectly, allowing smooth rotation"
    
6. A strong liking or taste for something
   "He has a sweet tooth"

Derived forms: teeths

Type of: agency, anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, bone, complex body part, means, os[2], projection, set, structure, way

Part of: cakehole [Brit, informal], cogwheel, comb, gear, gear wheel, geared wheel, gob [Brit, informal], hole [informal], kisser [informal], maw [informal], mouth, oral cavity, oral fissure, power saw, saw, sawing machine, trap [informal], yap [N. Amer, informal]

Encyclopedia: Teeth, diseases of