denti-

1. a combining form meaning “tooth,” used in the formation of compound words:

   dentiform.

denti-

combining_form

1. indicating a tooth

   dentine

   dentiform

Word History and Origins

Origin of denti-¹

< Latin, combining form of dēns, stem dent-; tooth

Word History and Origins

Origin of denti-¹

from Latin dēns, dent-

Example Sentences

Al quale e adviso che le mani et li denti habbiano perso il loro ordine naturale et del tutto annichilati.'

From Project Gutenberg

Anche la rana morderebbe se avesse denti—Even the frog would bite if it had teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

Onde quilli che manchano de denti o de labri non proferiscono bene.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use Denti-

What does denti- mean?

Denti- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “tooth.” It is used in some medical and scientific terms, including in dentistry.

Denti- comes from the Latin dēns, meaning “tooth.” Greek words for “tooth” are odṓn, source of the combining forms odonto- and -odont, and odoús, source of the combining form –odus.

What are variants of denti-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, denti- becomes dent-, as in dentin.

A less common variant of denti- is dento-, as in dentoalveolar.

Examples of denti-

One example of a term from anatomy that features the combining form denti- is dentigerous, meaning “having teeth.”

The denti- portion of the word means “tooth,” as we now know. The -gerous portion of the word means “bearing.” So, dentigerous literally translates to “tooth-bearing.”

What are some words that use the combining form denti-?

• denticle (using the equivalent form of denti- in Latin)
• dentiform
• dentifrice (using the equivalent form of denti- in Latin)
• dentilabial
• dentilingual
• dentiparous

What are some other forms that denti- may be commonly confused with?

• dendr-
• dendro-

The word dent, as in “a hollow or depression in a surface,” does not share a root with the combining form denti-. Learn where dent comes from at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form -form means “having the form of”—that is, “shaped” in some way. With that in mind, what does dentiform mean?