masseter

American  

[ma-see-ter] / mæˈsi tər /

noun

Anatomy.

1. a short, thick, masticatory muscle, the action of which assists in closing the jaws by raising the mandible or lower jaw.

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masseter British  

/ ˌmæsɪˈtɛrɪk, mæˈsiːtə /

noun

1. anatomy a muscle of the cheek used in moving the jaw, esp in chewing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• masseteric
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of masseter

1660–70; < New Latin < Greek massētḗr, variant of masētḗr chewer, masseter, equivalent to masē-, variant stem of masâsthai to chew + -tēr agentive suffix