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

Butterfly Stretch The butterfly stretch focuses on the hip adductor muscles in the groin and inner thigh. —Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 10 July 2024

Since signing a two-year, $62 million deal with San Francisco in March, Snell has struggled with a combination of injury and underperformance, dealing with a left adductor strain earlier in the season. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 7 July 2024

Over the past two seasons, he’s dealt with oblique, hamstring, quadriceps and now an adductor injury that have forced him off the field. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 3 July 2024

Cam Johnson returned from a four-game absence for a left adductor strain and, with his playing time restricted, scored four points on 1-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024

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