sphincter
noun/ˈsfɪŋktə(r)/
/ˈsfɪŋktər/
(anatomy)- a ring of muscle that surrounds an opening in the body and can become tight to close it
- the anal sphincter
Word Originlate 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek sphinktēr, from sphingein ‘bind tight’.Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
sphincter