# teeth

/ˈtiθ/ (US) · /tˈiːθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/teeth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. plural of tooth

noun · CEFR A1

the hard, white objects in your mouth that you use for biting and chewing food.

For teachers: the plural form of tooth; the hard, calcified structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates used for breakdown of food.

- You should brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep them healthy.
- The dentist noted that the patient's teeth showed signs of significant wear, likely caused by grinding them during sleep.

Usage: Irregular plural of 'tooth'.

### 2. power to enforce

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the power or ability to make sure a law or rule is followed.

For teachers: the capacity for effective enforcement or the power to produce a desired effect, typically regarding legislation or contracts.

- The new environmental law has no teeth because there are no fines for breaking it.
- Critics argued that the regulatory body lacked the teeth necessary to penalise multinational corporations for tax avoidance.

Usage: Usually used with the verb 'give' or 'have'.

## Examples

- You should brush your teeth twice a day.
- The dentist checked my teeth for cavities and suggested I start flossing more regularly.
- Evolutionary biologists study the shape and wear of fossilised teeth to determine the dietary habits of extinct mammalian species.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.