Maxillary
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Alternative form of maxilla. alt-of, alternative
"In the RODENTIA the interorbital space is still larger, by reason of the size of the intermaxillary bones throwing the maxillary backwards and to the sides, where they form the inner orbitar wall, in which the palate bones occupy only a small space. The anterior wall is formed by a process of the maxillary, which contributes to form the zygomatic arch, while the malar is suspended in the middle between the process and that of the temporal bone."
- 2 the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the cranium wordnet
- 3 A tooth growing from the upper jawbone.
"A tendon extends from the inner surface of the dentary to the postero-lateral surface of the maxillary near the ball and socket joint."
- 1 Of or relating to the jaw or jawbone. not-comparable
- 2 Of or pertaining to the maxillae of an arthropod. not-comparable
- 1 of or relating to the upper jaw wordnet
Example
More examples"In the RODENTIA the interorbital space is still larger, by reason of the size of the intermaxillary bones throwing the maxillary backwards and to the sides, where they form the inner orbitar wall, in which the palate bones occupy only a small space. The anterior wall is formed by a process of the maxillary, which contributes to form the zygomatic arch, while the malar is suspended in the middle between the process and that of the temporal bone."
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin māxillāris (“of or belonging to the jaw”), from māxilla (“the jawbone, jaw”) + -āris (“-ar, -ary”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to maxilla + -ary.
Related phrases
More for "maxillary"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.