1. the lower jaw or jawbone in vertebrates
Usage: anatomy
2. either of the paired mouthparts used for biting and chewing in insects and other arthropods
Usage: entomology; zoology

Examples

• The dentist examined her mandible for signs of damage.
• He fractured his mandible in the accident and needed surgery.
• The fossil showed a well-preserved mandible with several teeth intact.
• Insects use their mandibles to cut and chew food.
• The beetle’s powerful mandibles can crush hard seeds.
• Scientists studied the mandible structure of various ant species.