menta

menta — noun

  • mentasingular
  • mentasplural

1. the part of the lower jaw that sticks forward to form the chin.

1.名詞C2
釋義

the part of the lower jaw that sticks forward to form the chin.

例句

The surgeon marked the menta before stitching the wound below the lip.

medical context: marking the chin area

In the skull drawing, the arrow to the menta pointed below the lip.

diagram context: location below the lip

同義詞
  • chin

    the normal everyday word for this part of the face

  • jaw

    broader term that can refer to the whole lower jaw area

用法筆記

Usually seen in anatomical or formal description rather than in everyday conversation. Distinguish it from jaw, which can refer to the whole lower mouth area.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor checked his menta and teeth.
✅The doctor checked his jaw and teeth.
💡menta names the projecting chin area, not the whole jaw.

2. a flat middle plate in an insect's lower mouthpart.

2.名詞C2
釋義

a flat middle plate in an insect's lower mouthpart.

例句

Under the microscope, Iris traced the menta at the center of the beetle's lower lip.

entomology context: part of the labium

The textbook labeled the menta between the small mouth hairs.

labeling the structure in a diagram

同義詞
  • labial plate

    describes the structure by function rather than by the technical name

  • mentum

    a more common technical form in zoological description

用法筆記

Mainly used in entomology and anatomical descriptions of insects. Distinguish it from mandibles, which are the cutting jaws rather than the central plate.

常見錯誤

❌The ant cut the leaf with its menta.
✅The ant cut the leaf with its mandibles.
💡menta is a plate in the lower lip, not the biting jaws.