Incisers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth in the upper and lower jaws used for biting and cutting food ; cutting instruments that shear or slice material in a similar manner
2. The narrow, blade-edged front teeth that bite into food ; implements or structures whose function is to cut through things by a sharp edge
3. Chisel-edged teeth at the front of the mouth that nip off pieces of food ; sharp cutting tools that sever or slice material

Etymology: Incisers is the plural of inciser, something that cuts into a surface, such as a tool or a person who engraves or carves. The noun comes from the verb incise, which traces back to Latin "incidere," meaning to cut into. That verb is built from "in," meaning into, and "caedere," meaning to cut. English added the agent suffix -er to form inciser, so the word is literally a cutter. The same Latin root produced incisor, the front tooth that slices food, a close relative of this word.