caries
nounUK /ˈkɛə.ɹiːz/ · US /ˈkɛ.ɹiz/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin cariēs.
1
Usually The progressive destruction of bone or tooth by decay.
2
Abbreviation, Ellipsis, Usually Ellipsis of dental caries (“tooth decay”).
- Near-synonym: cavity
- Derived terms
- cariology, carious, dental caries