dentate, a.
(ˈdɛnteɪt)
[ad. L. dentāt-us, f. dens, dent-em tooth: see -ate2 2]
Having ‘teeth’ or tooth-like projections along the edge; toothed. Chiefly in Zool. and Bot.; in Bot. spec. of leaves having sharp teeth directed outwards.
| 1810 W. Roxburgh in Asiat. Res. XI. 350 With the margin elegantly laciniate-dentate. 1828 Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 34 Shell gibbous..outer lip generally dentate. 1835 Lindley Introd. Bot. (1848) I. 271 The leaf is merely toothed (dentate). 1846 Dana Zooph. (1848) 157 Lamellæ of the cells dentate or denticulate. |
b. In comb., as dentate-crenate, etc.: see dentato-. Hence ˈdentately adv.
| 1847 in Craig. |