molar

1 of 3

noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

specifically : one of the cheek teeth in mammals behind the incisors and canines see tooth illustration

molar

2 of 3

adjective (1)

1

: pulverizing by friction : grinding

2

: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth

molar

3 of 3

adjective (2)

1

: of or relating to a mole of a substance

the molar volume of a gas

2

: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution

molarity

mō-ˈla-rə-tē 

-ˈler-ə-tē

noun

Examples of molar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The rule says that treatment of ectopic pregnancies and trophoblastic tumors (sometimes known as molar pregnancy) are not abortions and don’t need to be reported as abortions. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024

But during surgery, the student and an older male faculty dentist who accompanied him struggled to remove the molar, said Susanna, 60. —Lewis Kamb, NBC News, 14 June 2024

The rules list three conditions that could put a pregnant person’s life at risk: premature rupture of membranes, ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy. —NPR, 14 June 2024

The significant size disparity adds some support to the case that the molar found in 2011 and the Danuvius fossils represent different species. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English molares, plural, from Latin molaris, from molaris of a mill, from mola millstone — more at mill

Adjective (2)

mole entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

molar

1 of 2 noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

especially : one behind the premolars of a mammal

molar

2 of 2 adjective

1

: adapted for grinding

2

: of or relating to a molar

Etymology

Noun

from Latin molaris "a grinding tooth," from mola "millstone" — related to mill entry 1

Word Origin

Food is crushed in the mouth by the grinding of teeth, especially the molars. In much the same manner, grain may be ground into flour between two rough circular millstones. The Latin word for millstone is mola, and it seemed fitting to the English in the late Middle Ages that a tooth which acted like a millstone be called a molar.

Medical Definition

molar

1 of 4 noun

mo·​lar ˈmō-lər 

: a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding

specifically : one of the mammalian teeth behind the incisors and canines sometimes including the premolars but more exactly restricted to the three posterior pairs in each human jaw on each side which are not preceded by milk teeth

molar

2 of 4 adjective

1

a

: pulverizing by friction

molar teeth

b

: of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth

molar gland

2

: of, relating to, possessing the qualities of, or characterized by a hydatidiform mole

molar pregnancy

molar

3 of 4 adjective

1

: of or relating to a mass of matter as distinguished from the properties or motions of molecules or atoms

2

: of or relating to larger units of behavior especially as relatable to a prior deprivation or motivational pattern of the organism

interest in such molar problems of personality as the ego functions

—R. R. Holt

compare molecular sense 2

molar

4 of 4 adjective

1

: of or relating to a mole of a substance

the molar volume of a gas

2

: containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution