Word
mandible
US/ˈmændəbəɫ/
UK/mˈændəbəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the lower jaw of a person or animal. It is the part of the face that moves when you open your mouth to speak or eat.
n. the lower jawbone of a vertebrate, including humans. In invertebrates, it refers to the first pair of mouthparts used for biting or chewing.
Examples
“The dentist checked the alignment of my mandible.”
“A fractured mandible can make it difficult to speak or eat solid food until the bone heals.”
“The fossil record indicates that the evolution of a more robust mandible allowed early hominins to process tougher plant materials, supporting a shift in dietary habits.”
Examples
simple
“The dentist checked the alignment of my mandible.”
contextual
“A fractured mandible can make it difficult to speak or eat solid food until the bone heals.”
complex
“The fossil record indicates that the evolution of a more robust mandible allowed early hominins to process tougher plant materials, supporting a shift in dietary habits.”
Real-World Examples
“In contrast, stout beetles have short, wide heads and powerful mandibles, making them well suited for crushing the shells of relatively small snails.” “Prior research showed that the zombification might be due to the release of a special chemical that causes the muscles in the infected ants’ mandibles to contract forcefully for that death-grip bite.” “The insects have unusually long, slender mandibles, antennae, and mouthparts that resemble Luffy’s rubber-like ability to extend his body.” Etymology
From late Middle English, from Late Latin mandibula (“a jaw”), from mandō (“to chew, masticate”) + -bula (instrument noun suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mandible