What does toothed mean?
Toothed is an adjective describing something that has teeth or a series of sharp, tooth-like projections. It is especially useful for describing mechanical parts such as toothed gears and toothed wheels, whose projecting elements engage with one another to transmit movement. Zoological writing also uses “toothed” in the established term “toothed whale,” distinguishing tooth-bearing whales from baleen whales. The word is normally more precise or technical than the general phrase “with teeth,” but it is not limited to machinery: it can describe animals, plants, tools, and other objects bearing teeth or serrations. “Toothed” can also function as the past tense and past participle of the verb “tooth,” meaning to form or furnish with teeth, although this use is less common in modern English. Derived from the longstanding Germanic word “tooth,” it is a useful example of how a simple suffix can extend an everyday noun into a formal descriptive adjective.
Having teeth, or having sharp projections resembling teeth.
"The toothed gear drove the machine forward."
The adjective is common in technical descriptions of gears, wheels, tools, and animals.
The past tense and past participle of “tooth,” meaning to form or provide with teeth.
"The saw was toothed before it was used."
This form is relatively uncommon and tends to occur in older, literary, or technical writing.
From the fearsome toothed whale to the humble toothed gear, “toothed” describes anything with an edge—or a purpose-built row of them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of toothed
The adjective and verb form are built from Middle English “tooth” with the suffix “-ed.” “Tooth” descends from Old English “tōþ,” an inherited Germanic word with relatives in German “Zahn” and Dutch “tand.” English derivatives such as “toothy,” “toothless,” and “toothsome” share the same Germanic base.
How toothed is actually used
As an adjective, “toothed” is common in technical and descriptive writing but is often more formal or specialized than the simpler phrase “with teeth.” As a verb form, it is relatively uncommon and usually appears in older, literary, or technical contexts.