edentate

1 of 2

adjective

eden·​tate (ˌ)ē-ˈden-ˌtāt 

1

: lacking teeth

2

: being an edentate

edentate

2 of 2

noun

: any of an order (Edentata) of mammals having few or no teeth and including the sloths, armadillos, and New World anteaters and formerly also the pangolins and the aardvark

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin edentatus, past participle of edentare to make toothless, from e- + dent-, dens tooth — more at tooth

First Known Use

Adjective

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

edentate

noun

eden·​tate

(ˈ)ē-ˈden-ˌtāt

: any of a group of mammals having few or no teeth and including the sloths, armadillos, and New World anteaters

edentate adjective

Medical Definition

edentate

1 of 2 adjective

eden·​tate (ˈ)ē-ˈden-ˌtāt 

1

: lacking teeth

2

: being an edentate

edentate

2 of 2 noun

: any mammal of the order Edentata

called also xenarthran