Meaning & use
teething
Last updated
“teething” is a form of “teethe”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
The process in which a baby's first teeth start to come through the gums, often causing discomfort.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: Teething can make babies irritable. Not 'a teething'.
Teething often starts when a baby is around six months old.
She gave the baby a cold ring to chew on during teething.
Teething can cause sore gums and restless nights.
adjectivebefore a noun
Used before a noun to describe problems that happen at the beginning of a new activity or system.
Grammar: Only used before a noun, especially in the fixed phrase teething problems or teething troubles.
Patterns
- teething problems
- teething troubles
The new software had a few teething problems in its first week.
The airline apologized for the teething troubles on its new route.
Despite some teething issues, the project was a success.
Common combinations
- teething problems
- The new app had teething problems, but they were fixed quickly.
- teething troubles
- The team worked through the teething troubles of the new system.
- teething ring
- She put the teething ring in the fridge to soothe the baby's gums.
- teething baby
- A teething baby may wake up several times at night.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dentition
- Dentition is a technical term for the arrangement or development of teeth; teething is the everyday word for the process in babies.
Word family
- teethe verb
- To grow first teeth; used mainly in the phrase 'a teething baby' or 'babies teethe'.
Commonly confused: teething or teeth?
teething vs teeth
Teeth is the plural of tooth; teething is the process of getting teeth. Don't say 'teething' when you mean the teeth themselves.
Practice
The new computer system had some ___ problems at first, but now it works well.
Choose one answer.
Teething problems is a fixed phrase meaning early difficulties. 'Teeth' is the plural noun for the hard objects in your mouth, 'teethe' is a verb, and 'tooth' is a singular noun, so none of them fit this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “teething”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.