Body Parts: carn (flesh), derm (skin), dent (tooth), os (bone)

Learn these words that derive from carn ("flesh"), derm ("skin"), dent ("tooth"), and os ("bone").
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dermal
    relating to, existing on, or affecting the skin
    “All of that research provides confidence that there is no elevated human health or environmental risk from the ingestion, inhalation or dermal contact with synthetic turf,” the statement said. Washington Post (Sep 22, 2015)
  2. dermatologist
    a doctor who specializes in the physiology of the skin
    Dermatologists generally recommend sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, has an SPF of 30 or higher and is water-resistant. US News (May 19, 2015)
    derm + logy (suffix meaning "science") + ist (suffix meaning "one who does")
  3. pachyderm
    a large mammal with thick skin, such as an elephant or hippo
    Elephant polo — yes, polo played atop pachyderms instead of ponies — is gaining popularity in England. Seattle Times (Sep 24, 2011)
    pachys ("thick") + derm
  4. epidermis
    the outer layer of skin covering the body surface
    Your body sheds skin cells so quickly that you have an entire new layer of epidermis every month. Washington Post
    epi ("on, above") + derm
  5. hypodermic
    relating to or located below the epidermis
    One in 10 of us are said to have a fear of the hypodermic needle, a necessary but frequently uncomfortable fact of medical life. BBC (Dec 5, 2014)
    hypo (prefix meaning "under, beneath") + derm + ic (suffix forming adjectives)
  6. taxidermy
    the art of mounting the skins of animals
    They are not to eat, of course, but to stuff, for my rather unusual hobby - especially for a teenage girl - taxidermy. BBC (Feb 18, 2019)
    taxis (arrangement, order) + derm + y (suffix forming nouns)
  7. carnal
    of or relating to the body or flesh
    How could this not be, when the root meaning of the word "carnal" comes from a word for "flesh"? The Guardian (Jul 3, 2012)
  8. carnival
    a festival marked by merrymaking and processions
    The clown showed us to a table stacked with food—the same boiled nuts and roasted meats that had tempted us at the carnival. Hollow City
    In the Christian tradition, the original and literal meaning was "remove meat" in reference to having a good time and feasting before giving up meat for Lent.
  9. carnivore
    a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
    I’m a carnivore, so I do enjoy a steak. The Guardian (Apr 21, 2018)
  10. osseous
    composed of or containing bone
    Bone, or osseous tissue, is a connective tissue that constitutes the endoskeleton. Biology for AP Courses
  11. ossify
    become bony
    Their cartilage kneecaps take at least three years to harden; other bones begin 11 weeks before birth, when softer tissue ossifies. New York Times (Apr 2, 2019)
  12. al dente
    cooked so as to still be firm when eaten
    Cook the pasta al dente so it's firm enough to hold its own when tossed with the tangy-sweet salad dressing. Southern Living (Sep 30, 2011)
  13. dental
    of or relating to the teeth
    She says that people from nearby communities come to her for dental work, since she is the best dentist for kilometers. The Queen of Water
  14. denture
    a medical appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth
    Washington’s dentures were actually made from lead, ivory, bone, and animal teeth. In the Shadow of Liberty
  15. orthodontist
    a dentist specializing in irregularities of the teeth
    Once home, X-rays taken at his orthodontist’s office, where he had hoped to have his teeth straightened, showed some abnormalities. New York Times (Jun 18, 2021)
Created on Tue Feb 10 11:18:28 EST 2026 (updated Fri Mar 20 16:11:43 EDT 2026)

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