diastema

noun

di·​a·​ste·​ma ˌdī-ə-ˈstē-mə How to pronounce diastema (audio)
plural diastemas or diastemata ˌdī-ə-ˈstē-mə-tə How to pronounce diastema (audio)
: a space between teeth in a jaw

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, interval, from Greek diastēma, from diistanai

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diastema was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Diastema.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diastema. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

diastema

noun
di·​a·​ste·​ma ˌdī-ə-ˈstē-mə How to pronounce diastema (audio)
plural diastemas or diastemata -mət-ə How to pronounce diastema (audio)
: a space between teeth in a jaw
diastematic
-sti-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce diastema (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on diastema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diastema

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