molar

1
[ moh-ler ]
See synonyms for molar on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also called molar tooth . a tooth having a broad biting surface adapted for grinding, being one of twelve in humans, with three on each side of the upper and lower jaws.

adjective
  1. adapted for grinding, as teeth.

  2. pertaining to such teeth.

Origin of molar

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English molares (plural), from Latin molāris “grinding tooth, molar,” equivalent to mol(a) “millstone, mill” + -āris -ar1

Words Nearby molar

Other definitions for molar (2 of 3)

molar2
[ moh-ler ]

adjective
  1. Physics. pertaining to a body of matter as a whole, as contrasted with molecular and atomic.

Origin of molar

2
First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin mōl(ēs) “a lump; large mass” + -ar1

Other definitions for molar (3 of 3)

molar3
[ moh-ler ]

adjectiveChemistry.
  1. pertaining to a solution containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

  2. noting or pertaining to gram-molecular weight.

Origin of molar

3
First recorded in 1860–65; mole4 + -ar1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use molar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for molar (1 of 2)

molar1

/ (ˈməʊlə) /


noun
  1. any of the 12 broad-faced grinding teeth in man

  2. a corresponding tooth in other mammals

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or designating any of these teeth

  2. used for or capable of grinding

Origin of molar

1
C16: from Latin molāris for grinding, from mola millstone

British Dictionary definitions for molar (2 of 2)

molar2

/ (ˈməʊlə) /


adjective
  1. (of a physical quantity) per unit amount of substance: molar volume

  2. (not recommended in technical usage) (of a solution) containing one mole of solute per litre of solution

Origin of molar

2
C19: from Latin mōlēs a mass

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for molar (1 of 2)

molar1

[ lər ]


Chemistry
  1. Relating to a mole.

  2. Containing one mole of solute per liter of solution.

Scientific definitions for molar (2 of 2)

molar2

[ lər ]


  1. Any of the teeth located toward the back of the jaws, having broad crowns for grinding food. Adult humans have 12 molars.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.