buccinator

American  

[buhk-suh-ney-ter] / ˈbʌk səˌneɪ tər /

noun

Anatomy.

1. a thin, flat muscle lining the cheek, the action of which contracts and compresses the cheek.

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buccinator British  

/ ˈbʌksɪˌneɪtə /

noun

1. a thin muscle that compresses the cheeks and holds them against the teeth during chewing, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• buccinatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of buccinator

1665–75; < New Latin; Latin buccinātor, būcinātor trumpeter, equivalent to būcinā ( re ) to signal on a trumpet (verbal derivative of būcina curved trumpet or horn) + -tor -tor