1 malar | Definition of malar

malar

adjective
ma·​lar | \ ˈmā-lər How to pronounce malar (audio) , -ˌlär\

Definition of malar

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: of or relating to the cheek or the side of the head

malar

noun

Definition of malar (Entry 2 of 2)

: zygomatic bone

called also malar bone

Examples of malar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Also called a malar rash, the red skin looks like a sunburn. NBC News, "What is lupus? What you need to know," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of malar

Adjective

1782, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for malar

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin mālāris, from Latin māla (usually in plural mālae) "lower part of the face, cheeks, jaws" + -āris -ar ; māla perhaps going back to Italic *smaksla, going back to Indo-European *smḱ-slo-/sleh2-, whence, from *smeḱ-, Old Irish smech "chin," and, from *smeḱ- or *smoḱ- with a suffix *-r-, Lithuanian smãkras, smakrà "chin," Albanian mjekrë "beard, chin," Armenian mawrow-kʼ "chin," Sanskrit śmaśru- "beard," Hittite zamakur, zamankur "beard" (with irregular z for š)

Note: Latin māla has alternatively been explained as *mand-sla-, a derivative of mandere "to chew" (see mandible).

Noun

by ellipsis from malar bone

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More Definitions for malar

malar

adjective
ma·​lar | \ ˈmā-lər How to pronounce malar (audio) , -ˌlär How to pronounce malar (audio) \

Medical Definition of malar

: of or relating to the cheek, the side of the head, or the zygomatic bone

More from Merriam-Webster on malar

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with malar