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fang

Pronunciation: /ˈfæŋ/

The English word “fang” has 20 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A long, pointed canine tooth used for biting and tearing flesh.
  2. Synonym of mandible, the long mouthpart of insects and other invertebrates.
  3. A long, pointed tooth in snakes, used for injecting venom.
  4. A pointed extension of the chelicera in spiders, used for injecting venom.
  5. Synonym of tooth, particularly in humans.
  6. Either of the two factors that make a number a vampire number.
  7. A grasping; capture; the act or power of seizing; hold.
  8. That which is seized or carried off; booty; spoils; stolen goods.
  9. Synonym of trap or noose.
  10. Synonym of root, the part of a tooth embedded in the gums.
  11. Synonym of root, a major projection of a plant's root system.
  12. Synonym of claw or talon.
  13. Synonym of spike or prong, any sharp projection.

verb

  1. To strike or attack with the fangs.
  2. To enable to catch or tear; to furnish with fangs.
  3. To catch, capture; seize.
  4. To take; receive with assent; accept.
  5. To receive with hospitality.
  6. To receive.
  7. To receive or adopt into spiritual relation, as in baptism; be godfather or godmother to.

Etymology

From clipping of fangtooth, from Middle English *fangtooth, *fengtooth, from Old English fengtōþ (“molar tooth”), from feng, preterite of fōn (“to catch, take, seize”). Cognate with German Fangzahn (“fang”, literally “catch-tooth”) and Dutch vangtand. See also related senses of Etymology 3 below.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.