Meaning & use
Carnassial
Last updated
Relating to or denoting the large, blade-like teeth in carnivorous mammals that are specially adapted for shearing flesh.
See it in a sentence
The wolf's carnassial teeth let it slice through meat and tendon with ease.
Paleontologists identified the fossil as a predator based on its carnassial dentition.
A note on using this word
From French 'carnassier', meaning carnivorous, ultimately from Latin 'caro' (flesh); carnassial teeth are a defining feature of the order Carnivora.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A carnassial tooth itself.
The specimen's upper carnassial was well preserved despite the fossil's age.
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