Word
jawbone
Phoneticsjaw·bone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdʒɔˌboʊn/
UK/dʒˈɔːbəʊn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the bone that forms your lower face and holds your bottom teeth. You use it to chew food and speak.
n. the bone of the lower jaw, specifically the mandible, which supports the lower teeth and facilitates mastication.
Examples
“He felt a sharp pain in his jawbone while eating.”
“The archaeologist carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal a perfectly preserved jawbone from a prehistoric mammal.”
“Reconstructive surgery was required to repair the patient's jawbone after the accident, involving the use of titanium plates to ensure structural stability.”
Examples
simple
“He felt a sharp pain in his jawbone while eating.”
contextual
“The archaeologist carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal a perfectly preserved jawbone from a prehistoric mammal.”
complex
“Reconstructive surgery was required to repair the patient's jawbone after the accident, involving the use of titanium plates to ensure structural stability.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “jawbone” in context.
Verb
01. break jawbone
“He fell off his bike and managed to break his jawbone in two places.”
verb + noun
02. jawbone click
“She noticed that her jawbone would click every time she chewed.”
noun + verb
03. jawbone heal
“It took several months for the broken jawbone to heal completely.”
noun + verb
04. reconstruct jawbone
“Surgeons used a bone graft to reconstruct the patient's damaged jawbone.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. fractured jawbone
“The boxer was rushed to the hospital with a fractured jawbone.”
adj + noun
06. lower jawbone
“The dentist took an X-ray to check the alignment of the lower jawbone.”
adj + noun
07. prominent jawbone
“The actor is known for his sharp, prominent jawbone and high cheekbones.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. fragment of jawbone
“Archaeologists discovered a small fragment of jawbone at the excavation site.”
noun + prep + noun
09. hinge of the jawbone
“The pain seemed to be coming from the hinge of the jawbone.”
10. structure of the jawbone
“The disease can significantly weaken the structure of the jawbone over time.”
Real-World Examples
“A fragment of a jawbone found deep underground in a cave in Somerset has rewritten the story of when and how dogs became our best friends.” “The jawbone of the ancient reptile was unearthed in Arizona back in 2011, but modern scanning techniques have now revealed details showing that it belongs to a species new to science.” “Its fossilised jawbone was found in 2016 by a fossil hunter on a beach in Somerset, UK.” “In patients with congenital defects or who have suffered accidental injuries, the jawbone is nearly impossible to replace.” Etymology
From Middle English jawe bone, a partial calque of earlier Middle English chawlbone, chawylbon, chavylbone, chawle boon, chavyl bon (“jaw bone”, literally “chavel bone”), see chavel-bone; equivalent to jaw + bone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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