{
    "term": "tooth",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "image": "data/images/bo/body_face.png",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "any of the hard white structures in the mouth used for biting food",
            "labels": "(informal)(formal)(British English)(British English)(disapproving)(both informal, often disapproving)(informal, disapproving)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've just **had a tooth out** at the dentist's."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **brush/clean your teeth**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**tooth decay**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She answered **through clenched teeth** *(= opening her mouth only a little because of anger)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The cat **sank its teeth into** his finger."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had to have a tooth pulled *(= removed)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Billy's first tooth is now through."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her smile showed crooked teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her teeth flashed as she smiled."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His pipe was firmly clamped between his teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I lost three teeth in the fight."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I used to be self-conscious of my prominent teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mink have razor-sharp teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She answered the phone with a cigarette between her teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She wore a brace to correct her gappy teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The cat came in with a mouse in its teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sugar rots your teeth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their teeth were chattering with cold."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Body"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "huge", "gappy"],
                "verb + teeth": ["have", "brush", "clean"],
                "teeth + verb": [
                    "bite somebody/​something",
                    "sink into somebody/​something",
                    "snap together"
                ],
                "preposition": [
                    "against the/​your tooth",
                    "between the/​your tooth",
                    "in the/​your tooth"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a narrow, pointed part that sticks out of an object",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the teeth on a saw"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The teeth of the cog should fit into these grooves."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "having many weapons",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to show your teeth in an aggressive and threatening way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The dog bared its teeth and growled."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something that gives you your first experience of a particular type of work",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She cut her teeth on local radio."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to grow a new tooth",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that you should punish somebody by doing to them what they have done to you or to somebody else",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to fight in a very determined way for what you want",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She fought tooth and nail to keep custody of the children."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to become very enthusiastic about something that you have started to do so that you are unlikely to stop until you have finished",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into something that is difficult enough to keep you interested",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Choose an essay topic that you can really get your teeth into."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used when you are saying that you want something very much",
            "labels": "(British English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'd give my eye teeth to own a car like that."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to press or hit your teeth together because you feel angry; to feel very angry and upset about something, especially because you cannot get what you want",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He'll be gnashing his teeth when he hears that we lost the contract."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The news caused great **wailing and gnashing of teeth**."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Feelings"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to bite your teeth tightly together",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She gritted her teeth against the pain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Stop it!’ he said through gritted teeth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to be determined to continue to do something in a difficult or unpleasant situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It started to rain harder, but we gritted our teeth and carried on."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to like food that contains a lot of sugar",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be powerful and effective",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to express anger or surprise",
            "labels": "(British English, old-fashioned, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Hell’s teeth, I promised I’d be back by two."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "despite problems, opposition, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The new policy was adopted in the teeth of fierce criticism."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "in the direction that a strong wind is coming from",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They crossed the bay in the teeth of a howling gale."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to treat somebody badly or fail to give them help when they need it",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "something that hurts somebody/something emotionally; a great disappointment",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The job losses are a kick in the teeth for the union."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to say something that is not true at all",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The witness was clearly lying through his teeth."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that it is very difficult to make somebody do something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's like pulling teeth trying to get him to talk."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "old or too old",
            "labels": "(humorous, especially British English)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "involving opposition or competition that is violent and without sympathy",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "nature, red in tooth and claw"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make somebody feel physically uncomfortable",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Just the sound of her voice sets my teeth on edge."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tuːθ/",
                "audio": "to/tooth/tooth__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tiːθ/",
                "audio": "te/tooth/teeth__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tuːθ/",
                "audio": "to/tooth/tooth__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tiːθ/",
                "audio": "te/tooth/teeth__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English tōth (plural tēth), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch tand and German Zahn, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin dent-, Greek odont-."
}