sphincter
/ˈsfɪŋk.tɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.76 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
Example Sentences
- "the sphincter of the bladder"
- "the iris sphincter in the eye"
- "She decided that she would force him to climax first by the sheer strength of her young animal control, the strength of her sphincters […]"
- "The ink sac feeds into the rectum, controlled by a sphincter and in some inking events mucus from another organ, the funnel organ is ejected with water and ink through the anus and the siphon to create a cloud of ink."
- "Polygraph operators place their subjects on a pad that can sense the clenching of their sphincters, a device known by those who’ve sat on them as the “whoopee cushion.” Maguire took his seat, his sphincter already tight enough to crush walnuts."
- "Go ahead, use your eye sphincters and watch the roof opening and closing."
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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: σφῐγκτήρ
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈsfɪŋk.tɚ/
Inflected Forms
sphincters (plural)
sphincteres (plural)