maxilla

[ mak-sil-uh ]

noun

, plural max·il·lae [mak-, sil, -ee].

1. a jaw or jawbone, especially the upper.
2. one of the paired appendages immediately behind the mandibles of arthropods.

maxilla

/ mækˈsɪlə; mækˈsɪlə /

noun

1. the upper jawbone in vertebrates See jaw
2. any member of one or two pairs of mouthparts in insects and other arthropods used as accessory jaws

maxilla

/ măk-sĭl′ə /

, Plural maxillae măk-sĭl′ē

1. The upper part of the jaw in vertebrate animals.

Derived Forms

• maxillar, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxilla¹

1670–80; < New Latin, special use of Latin maxilla lower jaw, diminutive of māla (< *maxlā ) upper jaw, cheekbone

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxilla¹

C17: New Latin, from Latin: jaw

Example Sentences

The skeletal remains, which include skulls without mandibles, craniums, loose mandibles and maxilla fragments, were handed over in an official ceremony in Vienna on Tuesday, where there was a panel and presentation.

From Reuters

By contrast, we see the upper jaw — the maxilla — as a fixed part of the skull that simply holds the upper teeth.

From New York Times

The practice of mewing involves keeping the tongue on the roof of the mouth, the maxilla.

From The Guardian

Using high resolution micro-CT scanning, Dr. Weber created a 3D replica of the upper left maxilla that allowed him to investigate its surface features and, virtually, to remove enamel from the teeth.

From New York Times

Qilinyu had three bones, the dentary, maxilla and premaxilla, that characterize the modern vertebrate jaw seen in bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, though they are absent in the cartilaginous sharks and rays.

From Reuters

Related Words

• bone
• mouth