◙ (pl. teeth ) 1. each of a set of hard, bony enamel-coated structures in the jaws of most vertebrates, used for biting and chewing • （绝大多数脊椎动物的）牙，齿 a similar hard, pointed structure in invertebrate animals, typically functioning in the mechanical breakdown of food • （无脊椎动物的）牙，齿 an appetite or liking for a particular thing • 口味；爱好 »what a tooth for fruit a monkey has!. 猴子是多么的爱吃水果啊！。 [mass noun] roughness given to a surface to allow colour or glue to adhere • 粗糙面（颜料、胶水能黏附于上） (teeth)(figurative)genuine force or effectiveness of a body or in a law or agreement • [喻] （机构的）真正力量；（法律、协定的）真正作用，有效性 »the Charter would be fine if it had teeth and could be enforced. 如果《宪章》能有效实施的话，那就好了。 (teeth)used in curses or exclamations • 该死（骂人话，感叹词） »Hell's teeth!. 该死！。 2. a projecting part on a tool or other instrument, especially one of a series that function or engage together, such as a cog on a gearwheel or a point on a saw or comb • （工具、器具的）齿状物 a projecting part on an animal or plant, especially one of a jagged or dentate row on the margin of a leaf or shell • （动、植物的）齿状物
【IDIOMS】
◘ armed to the teeth 1. formidably armed • 武装到牙齿，全副武装 ◘ fight tooth and nail 1. fight very fiercely • 凶猛地打斗 ◘ get (或 sink) one's teeth into 1. work energetically and productively on (a task) • 积极而富成效地工作；专注于 »the course gives students something to get their teeth into. 这门课程能给学生一些值得深究的东西。 ◘ in the teeth of 1. directly against (the wind) • 逆（风） in spite of or contrary to (opposition or difficulty) • 顶着，不顾（反对，困难） »we defended it in the teeth of persecution. 尽管会遭受迫害，我们仍为其辩护。 ◘ set someone's teeth on edge --› seeedge
【派生】
♦ toothed adjective ♦ tooth-like adjective
【语源】
1. 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-