maxilla

Plural: maxillae, maxillas, maxillæ

Noun

• The upper jawbone in vertebrates.
• the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the cranium
• Synonym of jaw.
• An upper jaw especially of humans and other mammals in which the bony elements are closely fused.
• Synonym of jaw.
• Either of the two bones that lie with one on each side of the upper jaw lateral to the premaxilla and that in higher vertebrates bear most of the teeth.
• One of the first or second pair of mouthparts posterior to the mandibles in many arthropods that are used for tasting and manipulating food.

Examples

• He felt like he’d broken his opponent’s maxilla with that crushing bingo.

Synonyms

maxillary, upper jaw, upper jawbone, endite, jawbone, maxillary bone