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gencive

gum

noun zhahn-SEEV Rare
Body & Health Body Parts

Origin: Latin gingiva (gum)

Usage Note

Gencive is the anatomical and everyday term for the gum (the soft tissue around the teeth); it is almost always used in the plural les gencives when referring to a person's gums in general. Avoir les gencives sensibles ('to have sensitive gums') is a common phrase in dental hygiene contexts.

Examples

"Le dentiste a vérifié l'état de ses gencives."

Natural Translation

The dentist checked the state of his gums.

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