depressor

[ dih-pres-er ]

/ dɪˈprɛs ər /

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noun

a person or thing that depresses.

Surgery. an instrument for pressing down a protruding part, as a tongue depressor.

Anatomy.

a muscle that draws down a part of the body, as the corner of the mouth.Compare levator.
Also called depressor nerve . a nerve that, when stimulated, induces a decrease in activity, as a slowed heartbeat.

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Origin of depressor

1605–15; <Late Latin, derivative of Latin dēprimere (see depress, -tor)

Words nearby depressor

depression, Depression glass, Depression, Great, depressive, depressomotor, depressor, depressurize, Depretis, deprivation, deprive, deprived

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use depressor in a sentence

In the basi-carinal corner of the valve there are often crests for the attachment of the tergal depressor muscle.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
Cirripedia without a peduncle; scuta and terga furnished with depressor muscles; other valves united immoveably together.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
The cavity for the lateral depressor muscle is generally very slight; but in the two vars.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin
The depressor muscle is attached in the middle, at the lower, open end of this cavity.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin

There is a short adductor ridge, and a deep narrow pit or cleft for the lateral-depressor muscle.
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2)|Charles Darwin

British Dictionary definitions for depressor

depressor

/ (dɪˈprɛsə) /

noun

a person or thing that depresses

any muscle that draws down a part

med an instrument used to press down or aside an organ or parta tongue depressor

Also called: depressor nerve any nerve that when stimulated produces a fall in blood pressure by dilating the arteries or lowering the heartbeat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012