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maxillary

American

[mak-suh-ler-ee, mak-sil-uh-ree] / ˈmæk səˌlɛr i, mækˈsɪl ə ri /

adjective

of or relating to a jaw, jawbone, or maxilla.

noun

plural

maxillaries

a maxilla or maxillary bone.

Other Word Forms

intermaxillary adjective
postmaxillary adjective

Etymology

Origin of maxillary

First recorded in 1620–30; maxill(a) + -ary

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The irritating insects have organs called maxillary palps that allow them to detect carbon dioxide from their prey.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2022

This is especially true of the maxillary sinuses, under each eye.

From New York Times • May 3, 2022

The walls of the orbit are formed by contributions from seven bones: the frontal, zygomatic, maxillary, palatine, ethmoid, lacrimal, and sphenoid.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Each paranasal sinus is named for its associated bone: frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, sphenoidal sinus, and ethmoidal sinus.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Maxillary, maks′il-ar-i, adj. pertaining to the jawbone or jaw.—n. a maxillary bone, or maxilla.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023