Zähnung

Zähnung is a German noun meaning the state or quality of having teeth. The word is built from Zahn (tooth) and the suffix -ung, and it is used in several specialized fields to describe a toothed edge, margin, or arrangement.

In botany, Zähnung refers to a toothed or serrated margin on leaves, fruits, or seeds. The margin can be described as fein gezähnt (finely toothed), grob gezähnt (coarsely toothed), or serrated. This characteristic is commonly used in plant identification and in the description of species in floras and herbarium specimens.

In zoology and entomology, Zähnung similarly denotes tooth-like projections or serrated edges on various structures, such as wings, mandibles, or other appendages, providing a qualitative description of margins and sculpturing.

In mechanical engineering and manufacturing, Zähnung denotes the gear tooth system, i.e., the toothing of gears and racks. It encompasses tooth profile, pitch, module, number of teeth, pressure angle, and related standards. Correct Zähnung is essential for the proper meshing and functioning of gear trains and power transmission equipment.

The term may also appear in older or more general texts to describe jagged or tooth-like edges in other materials, but in practice its most standardized uses lie in botany and gear technology.