Definition of diastema in English:
diastema
nounPlural diastemata ˌdʌɪəˈstiːmədʌɪˈastɪməˌdaɪəˈstimə
Zoology 1A space separating teeth of different functions, especially that between the biting teeth (incisors and canines) and grinding teeth (premolars and molars) in rodents and ungulates.
Example sentencesExamples
- The canines are absent or vestigial, and a substantial diastema separates incisors and cheek teeth.
- Incisors and canines are absent, but the anterior cheek teeth are enlarged, triangular in cross section, and canine-like. They are separated from the rest of the cheek teeth by a diastema.
- The bit sits in a part of the horse's mouth called the diastema, which is a section devoid of teeth that lies between the front incisors and the back pre-molars and molars.
- As in the traversodonts, a large gap - the diastema - separated the incisors from the square cheek teeth (seven on each side).
- If a horse has a narrower diastema, a smaller or flatter palate, and/or a fat or thick tongue, a thinner bit may be far more comfortable in that horse's mouth than a thick one.
- 1.1 A gap between a person's two upper front teeth.
Origin
Mid 19th century: via late Latin from Greek diastēma 'space between'.
Definition of diastema in US English:
diastema
nounˌdīəˈstēməˌdaɪəˈstimə
Zoology 1A space separating teeth of different functions, especially that between the biting teeth (incisors and canines) and grinding teeth (premolars and molars) in rodents and ungulates.
Example sentencesExamples
- The canines are absent or vestigial, and a substantial diastema separates incisors and cheek teeth.
- As in the traversodonts, a large gap - the diastema - separated the incisors from the square cheek teeth (seven on each side).
- Incisors and canines are absent, but the anterior cheek teeth are enlarged, triangular in cross section, and canine-like. They are separated from the rest of the cheek teeth by a diastema.
- If a horse has a narrower diastema, a smaller or flatter palate, and/or a fat or thick tongue, a thinner bit may be far more comfortable in that horse's mouth than a thick one.
- The bit sits in a part of the horse's mouth called the diastema, which is a section devoid of teeth that lies between the front incisors and the back pre-molars and molars.
- 1.1 A gap between a person's two upper front teeth.
Origin
Mid 19th century: via late Latin from Greek diastēma ‘space between’.