maxillary

[ mak-suh-ler-ee, mak-sil-uh-ree ]

adjective

of or relating to a jaw, jawbone, or maxilla.

noun,plural max·il·lar·ies.

a maxilla or maxillary bone.

Origin of maxillary

¹

First recorded in 1620–30; maxill(a) + -ary

Other words from maxillary

in·ter·max·il·lar·y, adjective
post·max·il·lar·y, adjective

Words Nearby maxillary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use maxillary in a sentence

High cheek bones and prominent maxillary muscles enhanced the truculence indicated by his chin.
Dope | Sax Rohmer
The doctors jaw set so hard that his tanned skin whitened over the maxillary muscles.
Cursed | George Allan England
The Phrynid are very peculiar looking animals, the anterior legs being very long and slender and the maxillary palpi very large.
Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects | C. V. Riley
The maxillary palpi vary in number, many having two on each maxilla and others only one.
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. III (of 4) | William Kirby
The front branch of the two is the ophthalmic branch of the adult, and the hind branch the inferior maxillary branch.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour

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