sphincter
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English
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), ultimately of Pre-Greek origin. Possibly related to sphinx (“the strangler”).
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsfɪŋk.tɚ/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
sphincter (plural sphincters or sphincteres)
- (anatomy) A ringlike band of muscle that surrounds a bodily opening (such as the anus or the openings of the stomach), constricting and relaxing as required for normal physiological functioning.
- Hyponyms: anal sphincter, lissosphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, pyloric sphincter, rhabdosphincter, sphincter of Oddi, upper esophageal sphincter, urethral sphincter
- the sphincter of the bladder
- the iris sphincter in the eye
- 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance (The Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, page 836:
- She decided that she would force him to climax first by the sheer strength of her young animal control, the strength of her sphincters
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
Translations
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See also
References
- “sphincter”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- “sphincter”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin sphinctēr (“the muscle of the anus”), from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”).
Pronunciation
Noun
sphincter m (plural sphincters)
Further reading
- “sphincter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.
Latin
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek σφῐγκτήρ (sphĭnktḗr, “lace, band; contractile muscle”), from σφῐ́γγω (sphĭ́ngō, “to bind tight or fast”) + -τήρ (-tḗr, “-er, -or”, nominal suffix).
Pronunciation
Noun
sphinctēr m (genitive sphinctēris); third declension (Late Latin)
Inflection
Third-declension noun.
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | sphinctēr | sphinctērēs |
| genitive | sphinctēris | sphinctērum |
| dative | sphinctērī | sphinctēribus |
| accusative | sphinctērem | sphinctērēs |
| ablative | sphinctēre | sphinctēribus |
| vocative | sphinctēr | sphinctērēs |