caries

/ˈkeəriːz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkeriːz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈker-ēz/ (ame, mw)

caries — noun

1. a disease that slowly destroys tooth or bone tissue, creating soft spots and hol

1.名詞B2
釋義

a disease that slowly destroys tooth or bone tissue, creating soft spots and holes

例句

The dentist found caries on two of Yuki's back teeth during her checkup.

collocation: found caries / dental caries

Dr. Osei spotted early caries on the X-ray and filled the tooth right away.

collocation: early caries

同義詞
  • tooth decay

    the everyday term; less formal than 'caries'

  • dental decay

    slightly more formal than 'tooth decay', common in health leaflets

  • cavities

    informal; refers to the holes caused by caries, not the disease itself

用法筆記

Used mostly in medical and dental contexts. In everyday speech, people say 'tooth decay' or 'cavities'. The word is uncountable — never say 'a caries'.

常見錯誤

❌I have a caries on my back tooth.
✅I have caries on my back tooth.
💡'caries' is uncountable; never use 'a' before it.
❌The dentist treated my carries.
✅The dentist treated my caries.
💡the spelling is 'caries', not 'carries'.