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# caries

noun (caries, uncountable; same form for one or many)

«caries» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal, medical) Caries is tooth decay: the slow damage to teeth that makes holes called cavities. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#m1)
2. (medical) Caries can also mean decay in bone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and health lessons, pupils learn that sugar and bacteria on teeth make acid that causes caries, and that brushing, fluoride and fewer sugary drinks help prevent it. Dentists use the word; at home people say tooth decay or cavities. Phrases: dental caries.

### Examples

- The dentist checked my teeth for caries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x1)
- Sugary drinks can cause dental caries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x2)
- Fluoride toothpaste helps protect against caries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x3)
- Caries is the medical word for tooth decay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x4)
- Brush twice a day to prevent caries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x5)
- Early caries looks like a small white spot on the tooth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/#x6)

### Note

Looks plural but is used with a singular verb: «caries is». Not a plural of «carry» and not related to carrying. Pronounced «CAIR-eez».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «caries» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caries/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«caries» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/caries.html) on Mova free.