levator

noun

le·​va·​tor li-ˈvā-tər How to pronounce levator (audio)
plural levatores ˌle-və-ˈtȯr-(ˌ)ēz How to pronounce levator (audio) or levators
: a muscle that serves to raise a body part compare depressor

Examples of levator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Levator syndrome describes rectal pain that comes and goes due to spasms of the levator ani muscle, which forms a large part of the pelvic floor. Korin Miller, Health, 13 July 2023 Types of levator syndrome include proctalgia fugax and coccydynia. Korin Miller, Health, 13 July 2023 Ptosis surgery involves tightening the levator muscle, which lifts the eyelid. Dagny Zhu, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2023 Your levator scapula muscle attaches at both the neck and the shoulder, and tightness in it can be a common cause of nerve pinches that moves pain down the arm. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 17 Jan. 2023 The jaw muscles were also significantly enlarged in the cannibals, especially the jaw-closing levator mandibulae, whose bulging appearance reminded me of a kid with six pieces of Dubble Bubble jammed into each cheek. Bill Schutt, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2019 As might be expected from animals so closely related, all the musculature was exactly alike except for the levator muscle, which none of the wolves had. James Gorman, New York Times, 17 June 2019 But the key finding was that the levator anguli oculi medialis muscle, or LAOM, is nearly absent in wolves. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 18 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin levare to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of levator was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near levator

Cite this Entry

“Levator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levator. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

levator

noun
le·​va·​tor li-ˈvāt-ər How to pronounce levator (audio)
plural levatores ˌlev-ə-ˈtōr-(ˌ)ēz How to pronounce levator (audio) or levators
li-ˈvāt-ərz
: a muscle that serves to raise a body part

Medical Definition

levator

noun
le·​va·​tor li-ˈvāt-ər How to pronounce levator (audio)
plural levatores ˌlev-ə-ˈtōr-(ˌ)ēz How to pronounce levator (audio) or levators li-ˈvāt-ərz How to pronounce levator (audio)
: a muscle that serves to raise a body part compare depressor sense a
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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