Sphincters
tər noun Anatomy.
a circular band of voluntary or involuntary muscle that encircles an orifice of the body or one of its hollow organs.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To Sphincters
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Sphincters
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
sphincter (ˈsfɪŋktə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| anatomy a ring of muscle surrounding the opening of a hollow organ or body and contracting to close it | |
| [C16: from Late Latin, from Greek sphinkter, from sphingein to grip tightly] | |
| 'sphincteral | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sphincter
1578, from M.Fr. sphincter, from L.L. sphincter "contractile muscle," from Gk. sphinkter "band, anything that binds tight," from sphingein "to squeeze, bind," of unknown origin. First used in anatomical sense by Galen.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
sphincter sphinc·ter (sfĭngk'tər)
n.
A ringlike muscle that normally maintains constriction of a body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning. Also called anatomical sphincter.
sphinc'ter·al or sphinc·ter'ic (-těr'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
sphincter  (sfĭngk'tər) Pronunciation Key
A ring-shaped muscle that encircles an opening or passage in the body. The opening and closing of the anus is controlled by contraction and relaxation of a sphincter, as is the opening that leads to the stomach from the esophagus. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Nearby Words
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