diastema

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] , from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek διάστημα (diástēma, “interval, space between”). Compare diastasis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /daɪəˈstiːmə/

Noun

diastema (plural diastemas or diastemata)

1. (pathology) A gap or space between two adjacent teeth, especially the upper front incisors (in humans).
   • 1968, Anthony Burgess, Enderby Outside:

     A gormless-looking boy, thin and exhibiting diastemata in the shop-front lights, offered him English newspapers.

2. (pathology) any abnormal space, fissure, or cleft in an organ or part of the body.
3. (cytology) the modified protoplasm at the equator of a cell, existing before mitotic division.

Usage notes

In other species, a diastema refers to a gap between teeth of different types, e.g. incisors and molars, which is a feature of some rodents and ungulates.

Derived terms

• diastematic

Further reading

• Diastema (dentistry) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Adamites, Adamsite, adamites, adamsite, amidates

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Italian

Noun

diastema m (plural diastemi)

1. diastema

Related terms

• diastematico

Anagrams

• disamate