1. relating to or affecting the teeth

1. a bone forming the lower jaw in vertebrates, especially in reptiles and fish
Usage: anatomy; zoology

Examples

• The dentary bone is a key feature in the classification of reptiles.
• Fish have a prominent dentary that supports their lower teeth.
• Paleontologists study the dentary structure to understand extinct species.
• The dentary articulates with the maxilla to form the jaw.
• In mammals, the dentary has evolved to become the primary jaw bone.