or  den*tine  n :  a calcareous material similar to bone but harder and denser that composes the principal mass of a tooth, is formed by the odontoblasts of the surface of the dental papilla, and consists of a matrix containing minute parallel tubules which open into the pulp cavity and during life contain processes of the cells of the pulp - compare CEMENTUM ENAMEL  den*tin*al dent-n-l; den-tn-l, den- adj .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  hy·dan·to·in  tendinea  ten·don 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.