adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər 

a-

1

: a muscle that draws a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity

2

: a muscle that closes the valves of a bivalve mollusk

Examples of adductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Mavericks looked like a ferocious defensive team in their Feb. 8 win over the Houston Rockets, but Davis’ early exit with a left adductor strain overshadowed an afternoon in which Dallas recorded a franchise-record 18 blocks. —Christian Clark, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Callender is still recovering from an adductor injury, Bright has a leg laceration and Alba is serving a rollover suspension from the Champions Cup last year. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025

To make matters worse, Davis suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut, which is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025

Sabonis is one of the top candidates to replace Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut Saturday after the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to Dallas in a blockbuster deal for Luka Doncic. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Late Latin, "conductor," from Latin addūcere "to lead or bring (to a place)" + -tor, agent suffix — more at adduce

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər 

: a muscle that draws a body part (as an arm or finger) toward or past a plane or a line that divides the body or a hand or foot into right and left halves

Medical Definition

adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor -ˈdək-tər 

1

: any of three powerful triangular muscles that contribute to the adduction of the human thigh:

a

: one arising from the superior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the middle third of the linea aspera

called also adductor longus

b

: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the iliopectineal line and the upper part of the linea aspera

called also adductor brevis

c

: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and the ischium and inserted behind the first two into the linea aspera

called also adductor magnus

2

: any of several muscles other than the adductors of the thigh that draw a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity